Khaled Al-Masri, a Democrat's Dream

Khaled Al-Masri, terrorist with September 11, 2001 connections -- or poor innocent baby snatched up and tortured for no reason? He claims that he was seized in Macedonia, flown to a secret jail in Afghanistan and tortured. What does he want? An apology from the United States of America. And oh yes, he's suing, -- like Maher Arar, who got loads of cash from Canada and a Canadian apology.

"I'll pursue the case until the Americans admit what they did to me, give an explanation and make an apology," he told the BBC News website.

Munich prosecutors have ordered the arrest of 13 suspected CIA agents. [snip]

Mr Masri says his case is an example of the US policy of "extraordinary rendition" - a practice whereby the US government flies foreign terror suspects to third countries without judicial process for interrogation or detention.

"I'm suffering from stress - this experience has left me traumatised," he said. (source)

His German attorney, Manfred Mr Gnjidic, says that he 'has evidence of how his client was maltreated: "We have some witnesses, we worked a lot to get one of them, from Algeria."'

I wonder who these 'witnesses' might be? Other terror suspects perhaps? Thomas Lifson at The American Thinker sheds some light on al-Masri:

The Munich District Attorney's office has indicted 13 CIA employees allegedly involved in the Khaled Al-Masri "kidnapping." The incident is being used to whip-up anti-American sentiment throughout the world, painting the US as a careless and brutal totalitarian state, the heir of Hitler and Stalin.

But this man is far from being the innocent lamb he has been made out to be in virtually the entirety of the mainstream media. The evidence available in German is rather damning. John Rosenthal of the estimable Transatlantic Intelligencer published an article last November that is all the more valuable today.

More than one credible source alleges that al-Masri has connections to the September 11, 2001 attack on America:

... two German news organizations, citing a confidential BKA memo, revealed that Khaled Al-Masri had been classified by German police as "a proponent of military jihad" since at the latest October 2003 (Financial Times Deutschland, Sept. 20; Stern, Sept. 21). October 2003 was three months before Masri allegedly went missing on the Serbian-Macedonian border.

In the meanwhile, the German weekly der Spiegel has reported that Masri's name had already come up in German investigations of the 9/11 plot. According to the Oct. 28 Spiegel article, an informant reporting to investigators in Baden-Württemberg had identified Masri as "a follower of Bin Laden" as early as Sept. 26, 2001. Citing the BKA files on the 9/11 plot, the Spiegel continues:

Masri is supposed already before September 11 to have whispered that one "is going to hear something soon" and in conversation said that one "must inflict as much pain on the Americans as they would inflict on people of the Islamic faith." (read more)

Not surprisingly, 'these latest reports have been almost entirely ignored by the established English-language media'. That's because these latest reports don't fit in with the MSM's agenda of painting the United States as evil, snatching up innocent people across the globe and putting the thumb-screws to them for no good reason, which of course is a great big pile of bull-hockey. It doesn't fit in with the liberal or progressive agenda.

About that apology that al-Masri wants from the United States (and probably loads of cash from a lawsuit), -- I say no way in hades will that happen ... unless maybe a far left presidential candidate gets elected in 2008. Something to think about.

I believe America is at a crossroads and the leadership we elect in 2008 can either send us down the right road (pardon the pun) or the wrong road. The right road is a road that is strong on terrorism, strong on illegal aliens, strong on keeping taxes low, ... in short STRONG. We need a strong president, one who doesn't sway with the political winds but, stands firmly planted. Things are going down the wrong path today, in my humble opinion.

One example is found in an article that begins, "What’s happening in America when Joe Citizen is chased away from the steps at Capitol Hill, but protesters are allowed to spray paint slogans on the steps?"

Something is wrong when crackpots get a pass, when the ACLU and CAIR control the conversation and want to make our laws. Something is just wrong and it needs correcting.

Rich Tucker stresses how weak our politicians look, thus making the United States look weak, and just how dangerous that can be to our security.

Could they possibly make themselves look weaker in the eyes of the world? And there’s a real danger in looking weak. As George Washington said, “there is a rank due to the United States among nations, which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by a reputation of weakness.” (read it all)

Where are all the true conservative presidential candidates for 2008? John Hawkins thinks Duncan Hunter is the guy:

If you're looking for someone who can represent the conservative wing of the Republican Party in 2008, California Congressman Duncan Hunter fills that bill far better that any of the top contenders who have already gotten into the race. Here's a short, but sweet primer that may help explain why that's the case.

He Is The "National Security Candidate." (read it all)

Douglas MacKinnon believes the GOP will win the 2008 presidential election.

As one who has been involved in presidential campaigns -- both intimately and as an occasional adviser -- I would venture to say that two fairly recent events have turned the 2008 election from an almost assuredly Democratic victory to a better-than-even chance that Republicans hold the White House for at least four more years.

What happened? First, (read it all)

Let's hope Mr. MacKinnon is correct. Lorie Byrd wonders how presidential candidates will approach future terrorist threats to the United States. I wonder too. I believe the safety of America depends on voters knowing the answer to that question.

Related: The Cesspool of Politics
What’s it Going to be Congress?, Sacred Scoop
Priest to Pelosi: do not receive the Eucharist, Degrees of Madness
Press Release: ICO United States V. Phan, Conservative Thoughts

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Comments

[StormWarning]

Well, I still don't agree with the general and broad characterization. If nothing else, that is the difference between us. I was once told that I am "not conservative enough to be a conservative" (maybe that's a good thing)...even if I am a Republican.

Our positions may be "the same." Our perspectives, I believe, are differently based.

As for the "Jack Bauer" reference, television drama is television drama. The real question about Jack Bauer and "24" is whether any of the scenarios are possible.

See: Negroponte's Outgoing Assessment
http://moonagewebdream.blogs.com/storms_counter_terrorism/2007/01/negropontes_out.html

Terrorists have no rights. Suspected terrorists have limited rights. Suspected terrorists who are not citizens of the U.S., well...then "you've" painted yourself into your own corner.

[Debbie]

Stormwarning, those who are against the United States taking any suspected terrorist anywhere and 'interrogating' them without a U.S. attorney, under U.S. laws, with a U.S. trial ... will love this guy. He is claiming that he is innocent, that he was tortured for no reason, yet that doesn't seem to be the case.

Those folks can use this guy, to say we should not EVER do this. Which is crazy as far as I'm concerned.

I'm of the 'Jack Bauer' school of interrogation.

[StormWarning]

Sorry, but I see no reason at all why Khaled Al-Masri would be a "Democrat's Dream" as you assert. I've read some of the articles about this situation and it is > about the practice of extraordinary rendition.

I covered that in my post Spy-Games of our Own - "Extraordinary Renditions"
http://moonagewebdream.blogs.com/storms_counter_terrorism/2006/12/spygames_of_our.html

FWIW, I think that Duncan Hunter could be a strong candidate (if he can raise enough money). I like his positions on defense, homeland security and illegal immigration.