Remember Richard C Reid, The Airplane Would-be Shoe Bomber?

Bluemerle · 19-07-2005, 06:18 PM

This is a breathtaking judgement and should be circulated as widely as possible, esp to the "liberals" amongst us

Remember Richard C Reid, The Airplane Would-be Shoe Bomber?

Whatever the rights and wrongs of what the incumbent USA administration is or is not doing, the following is makes interesting reading.

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built INTO phpbb_his shoe and tried to light it?

Did you know his trial is over?

Did you know he was sentenced?

Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV/Radio?

Didn't think so.

Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.

Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court:

Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say.

His response: after admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stated "I think I will not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."

Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:

January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid. Judge Young:

Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.

On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General.

On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive with the other.

That's 80 years.

On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed.

The Court imposes upon you each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million.

The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.

The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment.

The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.

Let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is all too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or if you think you are a soldier. You are not - you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and INTO phpbb_custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were, and he said: "You're no big deal."

You are no big deal.

What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?

I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing. And I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.

We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bare any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come INTO phpbb_courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.

Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.

So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets?

Please pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home.

mkpdavies · 19-07-2005, 10:56 PM

I'm a liberal and think that's a fair judgement and summing up.

The only thing I would say was wrong with it, is the Judge has no idea why this particular individual tried to do what he did. He might of hated freedom, but I would imagine it's a lot more complex than that.

Glad to see he will rot in prison, rather than be given the easy option of death. I just hope he is made to work his **** off for his food too.

C_steam · 20-07-2005, 07:52 PM

The summing up sounds just like it's been lifted from a Tom Clancy novel!

mkpdavies · 20-07-2005, 07:53 PM

Perhaps that's why I like it, being a Splinter Cell fiend.

C_steam · 20-07-2005, 07:56 PM

I was thinking more gung-ho stuff - 'Clear and present danger'

B.A.Ware · 21-07-2005, 01:26 AM

I thought it was a judge’s job was to be impartial and carry out the due process of law. I also thought his summing up of a case should not be his personnel opinion but a summary of the facts. In my opinion this guy (guilty as hell and should burn for it) has a good case for an appeal, any half witted lawyer would make out the judge to be biased on his righteous summing up.

mkpdavies · 21-07-2005, 07:42 AM

Not in the US of A.

Judges are like Judge Judy all the time.

Bluemerle · 21-07-2005, 09:55 AM

Well I liked what the judge said. I am fed up with the mealy mouthed platitudes spouted by our judiciary who are in the pockets of the politicians. :shock:

SGK · 26-07-2005, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B.A.Ware

I thought it was a judge’s job was to be impartial and carry out the due process of law. I also thought his summing up of a case should not be his personnel opinion but a summary of the facts.

I'm not sure that's right. I think you are confusing this with his conducting of the trial and his comments to the jury before they retire to consider the verdict. Here, the jury has already found him guilty, the judge then passes down a suitable sentence according to the law and can add his own comment at this stage. I think it is the same in the UK and the USA. But I'm no legal expert.

19-07-2005, 06:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	Remember Richard C Reid, The Airplane Would-be Shoe Bomber? This is a breathtaking judgement and should be circulated as widely as possible, esp to the "liberals" amongst us Remember Richard C Reid, The Airplane Would-be Shoe Bomber? Whatever the rights and wrongs of what the incumbent USA administration is or is not doing, the following is makes interesting reading. Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built INTO phpbb_his shoe and tried to light it? Did you know his trial is over? Did you know he was sentenced? Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV/Radio? Didn't think so. Everyone should hear what the judge had to say. Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court: Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say. His response: after admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stated "I think I will not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country." Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below: January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid. Judge Young: Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you. On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutive with the other. That's 80 years. On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years consecutive to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 for the aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. The Court imposes upon you the $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further. This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence. Let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is all too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice. You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether it is the officers of government who do it or your attorney who does it, or if you think you are a soldier. You are not - you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and INTO phpbb_custody and you wondered where the press and where the TV crews were, and he said: "You're no big deal." You are no big deal. What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing. And I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know. It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf and have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges. We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bare any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. Day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come INTO phpbb_courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice. See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will. Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down. So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? Please pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home.

19-07-2005, 10:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,832 Party: Libertarian Party	I'm a liberal and think that's a fair judgement and summing up. The only thing I would say was wrong with it, is the Judge has no idea why this particular individual tried to do what he did. He might of hated freedom, but I would imagine it's a lot more complex than that. Glad to see he will rot in prison, rather than be given the easy option of death. I just hope he is made to work his **** off for his food too. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

20-07-2005, 07:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,832 Party: Libertarian Party	Perhaps that's why I like it, being a Splinter Cell fiend. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

21-07-2005, 07:42 AM	#7 (permalink)
mkpdavies Uber Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Woking Posts: 30,832 Party: Libertarian Party	Not in the US of A. Judges are like Judge Judy all the time. __________________ http://brits4ronpaul.blogspot.com/ http://wokinglibertarians.blogspot.com/ http://lpuk.org My ignore list Labour, Blue Labour, Lib Dems

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20-07-2005, 07:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
C_steam Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Paddling up 5hit creek..... Posts: 7,704	The summing up sounds just like it's been lifted from a Tom Clancy novel!

20-07-2005, 07:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
C_steam Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Paddling up 5hit creek..... Posts: 7,704	I was thinking more gung-ho stuff - 'Clear and present danger'

21-07-2005, 01:26 AM	#6 (permalink)
B.A.Ware Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Birmingham Posts: 4,495 Party: UKIP	I thought it was a judge’s job was to be impartial and carry out the due process of law. I also thought his summing up of a case should not be his personnel opinion but a summary of the facts. In my opinion this guy (guilty as hell and should burn for it) has a good case for an appeal, any half witted lawyer would make out the judge to be biased on his righteous summing up.

21-07-2005, 09:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	Well I liked what the judge said. I am fed up with the mealy mouthed platitudes spouted by our judiciary who are in the pockets of the politicians. :shock: