The AP reports that Egypt’s transitional military government has lifted a travel ban against seven of the 16 Americans currently being tried for their work with organizations that allegedly took illegal foreign contributions — work that incited protests against the military rulers, the government alleges. The report takes this development (which includes the release of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s son) as a signal that the crisis is being resolved. The 16 Americans are among 43 “civil society activists” being tried. Though the trial started Sunday, it was promptly adjourned for two months (until April 26). In the meantime, the American defendants have not been required to attend the trial and, more significantly, the three judges resigned from the case, citing “uneasiness.” The country’s top prosecutor is said to have lifted the travel ban at the recommendation of the case’s investigating magistrate.
That all sounds great, and hopefully it really is the end of the story — or at least the beginning of the end. But there is a disturbing possibility that the AP story does not mention.
The widely read Arabic newspaper al-Arabiya reported yesterday that the Obama administration has offered a prisoner-swap in exchange for the release of the Americans — an exchange that would have the U.S. releasing the “Blind Sheikh”, Omar Abdel Rahman, in addition to 49 other Egyptian inmates held in American prisons. I was the lead prosecutor on Abdel Rahman’s terrorism trial in 1995, when he was convicted of masterminding a terrorist war against the United States that included the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and a plot to bomb New York City landmarks. The al-Arabiya story has not made it to the paper’s English language site, but word of it first appeared late last night at Jihad Watch, and a translation of the story is now posted on the “Translating Jihad” site.
I’ll have more to say about the Blind Sheikh story soon. Is it true, and is it a quid pro quo for Egypt’s apparently imminent release of the detained Americans? I certainly hope not . . . but I don’t know.
There's no way this is true; not because Obama wouldn't do it, but because this is an election year. He only has one marginally positive mark on his grade card, and that is his (perceived) tenacity on the war on terror. He starts trading terrorists for hostages, and he becomes the new Jimmy Carter, almost overnight. And, it's just not any terrorist. It's the guy who tried to take down the Towers and failed. A story like this puts NY in play, even for Santorum.
Oh, then there would be the copycat kidnappings in foreign lands accross the land. If Barack is going to roll over the Egyptians, he'd roll over for anyone else. He would spend the remainder of his first, and last, term negotiating the release of Americans all over the globe. I don't think he's that stupid - but I hope I'm wrong.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMeant to say...copycat kidnappings across the globe.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI'm not sure such a trade would damage Obama's electoral prospects even in New York City.
I observed that New York Times- readin'-Hilaary votin'-Volvo drivin'-NPR listenin' Upper West Siders were referring to 9/11 as "the disaster" within a year of 9/11/2001. As if it were a very severe thunderstorm, not the deed of certain men.
There is a denial of cause, what might be called a willful blindness afoot in the land.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseCarter, for all his faults, did not trade terrorists for hostages. Ronald Reagan, on the other hand, sought to trade arms and spare parts to Iran in exchange for hostages. (And turned tail and ran after a terrorist attack on the Marine Barracks in Lebanon, for that matter).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHere's what I've learned: the miasma that is the Obama regime is one with no bottom. One must never suppose it won't get even worse.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseMy guess is the only catch is that Uncle Sam will agree to continue the flow of the Camp David billions to the Egyptian Army. Sub rosa pressure from the Egyptian Army, trying to keep that gravy train on the tracks, is also the most likely explanation for the postponement of the trial and, now, the apparent collapse of the case. As much as I would love for Pres. Obama to so stupidly shred his record on terror by releasing the Blind Sheik, it's not going to happen.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseSay what?! A prisoner swap? What is this?! Are we now Israel swapping a 1,000 terrorist prisoners for one kidnapped soldier? Isn't the situation vastly different? I'm not that crazy about the trades that Israelis do to get back their dead or their kidnapped, but for the U.S. to do this is just out of the stratosphere irrational and bone-headed.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat the... !?
"The widely read Arabic newspaper al-Arabiya reported yesterday that the Obama administration has offered a prisoner-swap in exchange for the release of the Americans — an exchange that would have the U.S. releasing the “Blind Sheikh”, Omar Abdel Rahman, in addition to 49 other Egyptian inmates held in American prisons. I was the lead prosecutor on Abdel Rahman’s terrorism trial in 1995, when he was convicted of masterminding a terrorist war against the United States that included the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and a plot to bomb New York City landmarks."
How does this make sense to anyone!?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseNo way! This would encourage the taking of Americans hostage all over the world.
Obama is evil, but he's not this stupid.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOh yes he is.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseOne would think that Mr. McCarthy would be a little bit more careful about posting unsubstantiated rumor in light of his recent "the Judge is a biased Muslim convert" post he had to retract after it turned out the Judge wasn't actually a Muslim convert. However, Mr. McCarthy's white hot hatred for all things Obama and Muslim-related has again clouded his judgment.
I mean, seriously, does Mr. McCarthy really think Obama is going to release the Blind Shiekh? In an election year?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseI can't imagine this is true. Certainly David Axelrod is smarter than this. Releasing the Blind Sheik would be equivalent to releasing KSM or even bin Laden (if he were ever imprisoned by the US). This would be, by FAR, the most outrageous thing the Obama Administration attempted.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseThere is no way that can be true.
I have my issues with Obama administration, but there is no way that would happen.
If it did, that has to be impeachment. Senate Democrats be damned, if he actually traded a tried and convicted terrorist like the blind sheik for a group of Americans whose "crime" was trying to educate and encourage Egyptians to form independent political parties. That is beyond the pale.
By the way, I noticed that only seven of sixteen are allowed to leave. What about the other nine?
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