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Hai Do / AFP - Getty Images file
Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, the blind spiritual leader of Egypt's largest Islamic extremist fundamentalist group, Jamaa Islamiyya, in an April 6, 1993, file photo. Abdul Rahman was convicted of conspiracy and sentenced to life in prison for helping to plan the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
The blind sheik who supported the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and other terror plots that targeted New York landmarks will stay in a U.S. prison, Obama administration officials said Tuesday.
"There is absolutely no plan to release or transfer the blind sheik,” said National Security Staff spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan. "Reports saying otherwise are completely and unequivocally false."
The strong denial came after some Republicans raised concerns that Egyptian leaders may be pressing the Obama administration to free Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman.
More stories from NBCNewYork.com
Former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey raised concerns in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday. Mukasey claimed there is circumstantial evidence a secret deal is under way as a goodwill gesture to the new Egyptian government.
Mukasey added it may be time for Congress to make clear that any such release would be a "gross betrayal of public trust that would justify removal from high office."
Abdul Rahman is currently serving a life sentence in a federal prison hospital in North Carolina. He was convicted in 1995 for his role in supporting a plot to bomb the United Nations, the Holland and Lincoln tunnels and assassinate then-Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, R-N.Y., and current Assemblyman Dov Hikind, D-N.Y.
A Justice Department spokesman said Tuesday, "The blind sheik will serve the rest of his life in a federal prison serving time for terrorism … and those who suggest otherwise are badly misinformed."
Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., sent a letter earlier this month to the State and Justice departments saying such a release would be "a sign of weakness and a lack of resolve by the United States and its president."
On the day he was set to take office in June, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi told a cheering crowd in Cairo that he would press the Obama administration to free the blind sheik.
"“I see signs for Omar Abdel Rahman and detainees pictures," Morsi said. "It is my duty and I will make all efforts to have them free, including Omar Abdel Rahman."
New York Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, condemned Morsi comments at the time.
"Sheik Rahman is a terrorist who planned to kill innocent Americans. Rest assured he will stay right where he belongs -- in jail for the rest of his life," Schumer said in June.
Gillibrand reiterated on Tuesday that any move to release the sheik would trigger a firestorm of opposition.
“If there is any attempt in the future to free this convicted terrorist it will be met with swift condemnation and action to stop it,” she said.
Reports of Egyptian calls to free Sheik Rahman come three years after Scottish authorities set free a Libyan terrorist convicted for killing 270 people in the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. The release of Abdel Basset al-Megrahi, who died in May, sparked outrage among the victims’ families.
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Leave a Comment:
I hope they put him so far back in Supermax that they have to feed him with a slingshot.
Embassy burners can suck it.
What is he doing in a hospital??? Is he ill or is he emptying bedpans???
No truth to tell about misdeeds so the Rethuglicans tell lies. It will never end.
I hope all of you voting for Obama will stop to think what will happen if he is re-elected. I am sure on the surface you are convinced that he will continue what appears to be true concern for illegal immigrants, the gay and lesbian movement, the union rhetoric, taking care of the elderly, women’s rights and all of those things that you think he stands for.
Rest assured once re-elected Obama doesn’t need you any longer; he will throw you to the side like he has so many others. You are nothing more than a vote to Obama. He will treat all of you as he has the black population of this country, because he knows he has the majority of their vote. So he isn’t going to waste any of his energy catering to them. I know I will be called a racist; but think about it. What has he done for the black communities of this country since he has become President to deserve the loyalty they have shown him? So be prepared, he is using all of us to promote his own agenda.
He doesn’t believe in US superiority, he apologizes to the world for our actions, he has total disregard for the Constitution, picks and chooses which laws he will enforce and issue executive orders by passing congress to do as he pleases.
You think the economy is a mess now; just wait. Unemployment will stay the same or continue to grow because businesses will be afraid to grow. Taxes will increase and he will continue to spend until the entire country is in the same financial shape as much of California. I could go on for hours trying to convince you that Obama is a danger to this country but for the most part I will be called names and ignored. If I can at least get you to think about it and maybe change the minds of a few I am fine with the ridicule and names that will be used because you disagree with my comments.
Well said.....The absolute truth. Folks need to wake up before it's too late.
I will bet that if Obama gets reelected he will release this piece of filth to Egypt as a gesture of friendship to his buddy Morsi and the Egyptian people. If Obama is reelected the Blind Sheik may even be home in Egypt in time for new years and will live out the rest of his life in luxury as the Islamists in Egypt shower him with gifts for his actions. Obama can not be trusted. Of course he will say now that the Blind Sheik will never be released, that is because he knows to say otherwise would cost him the election. However, after he gets your vote Obama will do as he pleases regardless of what the people of this country want. Obama has already demonstrated his contempt for the Constitution. He has illegally used executive orders to bypass the separation of powers when he could not get Congress to go along with his agenda. Obama decided which laws should be enforced and which ones should not and then just issues an executive order telling his administration to simply ignore the laws he does not like. This is not a person behaving a a president, this is a man behaving as a dictator. The scary thing is that as bad as he has been in this term, I can only imagine what it will be like if he gets reelected and does not have to worry about ever getting anyone's vote again. Obama's actions will be come that much more extreme and his disregard for duly passed federal statutes and our Constitution will get that much worse. Releasing the Blind Sheik would be just one more case of Obama doing what he wants regardless of what the American people want. Do not make the mistake of reelecting him, it will be a disaster for this country!!!
So what are all of you Obama haters saying? That I should vote for Romney? Someone who constantly flip flops on issues? How about someone who wants to give tax breaks to the rich while I keep paying taxes at the same rate? How about someone who wants to privatize social security? I'm voting for someone who, while far from perfect, has values similar to mine. And Mitt Romney's values favor the rich.
Maybe the blind sheik (Abdul Rahman) will die in prison from anally injected death serum, the loving gift of a cell-mate.
Of course the sheik won't be released. LOL, it's election time.
***(Prague newspaper report)
"The danger to America is not Barack Obama, but a citizenry capable of
entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier
to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore
the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate
willing to have such a man for their president.
The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is
a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of fools
should not blind anyone
to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The
Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool.
It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools, such as those who
made him their President."
I dunno - think it's funny that they have a pic of this muslim in a Santa hat; man that must be a pisser to not know when them rowdy Christians will sneak in and put those subtle little barbs in! heheheehehehehe!
Merry Christmas, Walt.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F8rBEYK5Ig
Yea right "Capt Don"--like we should all listen and believe some silly unnamed newspaper quotation from PRAGUE!!!
SERIOUSLY??!!
That's all you got????
Once again more Nut Wing Retardlicans using misinformation trying to discredit the Obama administration. I guess they think if we tell enough lies people will start to believe us. Oh wait that's everyone that votes for them. One of my favorite lies is the energy independence one. We need to drill more for energy independence. The truth is the #1 Largest export from the USA is Oil and Gas. One of the largest imports into the USA is, you guessed it oil and gas. Feel foolish yet?
You're right about the oil and in your criticism of the Republicans but why are you condoning Obama and his administration? They are not correct in their actions either!
Obama is like the best of two bad decisions. He's let me down on so many occassions, but when compared to Romney...........
Why?-3122622
You should feel foolish making that statement and then paying what you are at the pump. Why are you paying so much at the pump? Why don't you google how much our dependence on imports or how much imports have actually increased over the last 4 years. Get a brain and educate yourself before flinging out rhetoric you only have half the facts on...
WHY? Sorry kid, but you're so off base....
We export oil because in the areas much of it's produced there is no refining capacity.
Let me ask you this. If Obama and Democrats owned the government for the first two years of his administration, why didn't he do away with the subsidies to big oil? Congress could have drafted a bill in no time and Obama could have ended the subsidies with a stroke of the pen, so why didn't he end the subsidies?
LOL! I'll answer the question for you. Because Obama and the Democrats are in the back pockets of the oil companies, just like the Republicans. LOL!!
Obama's mentor in jail ???????
You mean you're father.
Time to ask Boozer for child support?
They should release him. He was just a fall guy for the U.S. government and their coverups.
@Scawarren,
He was sentenced to life for masterminding a plot to blow up New York landmarks and tunnels. Rahman was also found guilty in a scheme to assassinate Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during a trip to New York in 1993. This was not a cover up he was convicted a Federal court. This is just how Charles Manson was convicted. Conspiring. So are you saying to let Manson out to?
And you know this how?
one more Muslim Brotherhood lackey......let him rot.
it said he was Sheik in the headline idiot.
i thought santa died in prison,oh well.
"There is absolutely no plan to release or transfer the blind sheik,” said National Security Staff spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan. "Reports saying otherwise are completely and unequivocally false."
Is something less than "The blind sheik will never be released to Egypt or any other country under any circumstances, ever."
I would have preferred the latter.
Rational: There's no pleasing some people!
There is absolutely no plan to release or transfer the blind sheik,” said National Security Staff spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan. "Reports saying otherwise are completely and unequivocally false."
This statement says it all--but there's no pleasing some people, huh?
It's too bad the Republicants will try to spin this, as usual, without the facts. Hey scawarren, how many times does Why?-3122622 have to explain the facts to yer dumb self and what incorrect actions did the President commit now? Please explain so we can yet again see how uninformed you really are. Fortunately, the Obama administration has stood by their policies with few exceptions unlike your candidate who dismisses half the country and changes his stand on every issue depending on wind direction during that hour. Is the Mittster really the best and brightest the Republicants have to offer. If so, your party is deeper do do than I thought. Best of luck in Nov. you'll need it..........oh and you'll need that fake voter fraud non issue you morons dreamed up too.
Keep him in prison until after the election, when the president will have more flexibility.
Just to be clear, Omar Abdel Rahman did not "support" the 1993 WTC bombing he was an active participant. He also helped incite violence in his home country of Egypt that killed over 1,100 people. That the Egyptian government would like him released is a unbelievable insult. He should've been put to death in 1993. If there's any secret agreement agreement to free the murderer of six American citizens the Obama administration will be rightly crucified and the president himself will likely face impeachment.
gross betrayal of public trust that would justify removal from high office.
This is the statement from the former AG I would assume under George Bush.
I would think lieing to Congress and to the American people about WMDs and Iraq's supposed involvement in 9-11 would more accurately justify Congress actions.
I would also assume this could be carried out by the Hague and the World Court.
But neither happened and yet Republican's can sputter this ignorance against our President with no respect for the Truth or the consequences of their actions of their words in international policy.
Patriotism... Freedom. The Republicans have literally stolen these words from us and cloaked themselves and their bigotry and hatred with Double Speak. George Orwell has nothing on what we are becoming.
The US was attacked for the first and only time on US Mainland under the careless watch of George Bush and yet they present themselves tough on tewerism.
Anyone notice any Level RED Terroism alerts that would pop up under Bush everytime there was an election.
Or is referring to President Clinton again.
Monica Lewinski was not an impeachable offense.
And Gerorge Bush and Rumsfield and Cheney should be facing trial in the World Court because our Politician's did not do the right thing and stand up to them.
Hundred's and thousands of innocent Iraqis were killed in Shock and Awe it is more than an embaressment to our country. It is the lifes of children and women who suffered uncalculable pain and anguish and death.
We did what Hitler did in invading Poland...nothing less. And it hurts.
And that is the true meaning of Patriotism.
Do you remember the shoe throwing incident in Iraq.
Do you know what happened to that man. Do you know what the Iraqis did to that man for throwing his shoes as an insult to a man who had murdered thousands of innocent children and women. They beat the crap out of him in a back room as the president continued to speak and imprisoned him for a year.
That is not Freedom.
And Patriotism is hurting inside for what these people are trying to do to this country. Our mothers and fathers brought us out of the Great Depression; the took the shores of Normandy in full knowledge that the odds of any indivual surving was astronomical; they brought the SPace Age; and the brought us Civil Rights.
And the Baby Boomers who as Flower Children promised us a new Future have sold their souls on Wall Street for Baby Benzes and McMansions... and all they can show for this is Ronald Regan and the Bushes.
Jimmy Carter National Debt was 90 Billion... 90 BILLION.
Ronald Reagan who once said that if you cannot vote out the entitelments than maybe you can just stop the supply of money.
Why do the Rich care if we are in debt...who do you think is lending us the money.
I can just envision the conversation with the Greet Comunicator: Lets drop taxes and increase Military Spending and then when the deficit goes threw the roof we can just borrow the money from the Rich.
The get us two ways. First we limit their taxes and then they get interest on the money they have lent us...the money they should have paid in taxes.
Under the Clinton Admin Social Security spending was about 250 Billion a year...that 250 Billion is now less than what we are spending in interest on the national debt. Social Security and Medicare would be solvent if not for the spending and tax slashing of those who are supposedly Conservative.
Sorry I intended to hit the edit button and I may have posted two slightly different posts.
There are definitely some right wing nutcakes who need to be removed from Congress this election.
we need the bathroom attendant currently trying to act like the president to lose in november
I beg your pardon?
@ ricecrispes (even your name is misspelt !!)
Your spelling is terrible, but we get your point....
I have a problem with my hearing which I had as a young child. It has affected my spelling and my grammar.
John: "we need the bathroom attendant currently trying to act like the president to lose in november"
You're not even worthy to shine our President's shoes. Sour grapes! Boo hoo!
Al Rahman was sentenced in fed. court to life in prison with special circumstances. He is in a U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Prisons hospital in N.C. This man is going to die in a medical facility. He was not mistreated, tortured, or demeaned in any manor. However, he will die in prison.
LTC Rattus, USA, ret.
So many americans without medical coverage, yet this piece of garbage is in a prison hospital at our expense. Where is the justice ?
What we need is for Congress and the Justice Dept. to immediately launch expensive investigations into widespread reports that I'm now fabricating that Mitt Romney has secret plans to give Alaska to Canada. He will doubtlessly deny any such thing, but he cannot prove he has no such secret plan.
"Blind sheik terrorist will stay in US prison, White House says"
Or until Obama gets to pardon him.
You guys swore he was Muslim so why would he give a pardon to a Sheik man? You guys realllllyyyyyy need to learn the difference between the two before throwing stones lol you make yourselves look stupid.
If Obama had not been smoked out on this, the sheik would have been quietly released.
Do you think possibly the man is full of crap who said this to get cases like you to step in line behind them? Do you not think to wadger incindeary BS from a former AG who apparently has no concern for his words in Egypt...do you think maybe the concern should not be the continued lieing by the republicans who cast as an example: Obama as easing Well Fare reform even though all Political experts have called the republicans on this?
The Republicans are lieing over and over again because of people like you who take without any consideration the validity of the statement...
Wrong--
"It's hard to remember now, but this summer Mitt Romney opened a useful debate about "dependency"—concerning President Obama's regulation to rewrite the 1996 welfare reform. Democrats deny any such intent, but as early as this week the House plans to hold a vote to override the new rule.
So it's a good moment to dissect what the Administration is really trying to do, because in this case Mr. Romney is right: The Administration has made welfare's work requirements far weaker, and for ideological reasons that the press corps has failed to report."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304388004577528931414701856.html?KEYWORDS=obama+administration+welfare+waivers
Obama is essentially an Arab/Muslim/Black/White mix. He has no slave blood as opposed to most African-Americans. He did not share their early experiences and was, in fact, brought up by a lovely white family. It would not be surprising if he felt a tie to the Muslim Brotherhood and the Blind Sheik. He certainly does not have childhood memories from America, for he spent his formative years in Indonesia. That is a matter of fact.
Obama Zombies like you have traded in their critical thinking faculties, that would have allowed them to verify a record of failure, for the seductive embrace of an illusion they first fell in love with four years ago. Pity.
I am sorry I had no idea the degree of your bigotry and delusions otherwise I would have not started this debate with you. You are beyond having a discussion with and our country will move on without you. I am mean that seriously I am not merely trying to insult you but THIS IS THE BASE of the Republican party.
I can not argue with a person who answers to the fact that the sun is shining by stating merely that it isn't and I am wrong.
There is no debate. It is not possible.
And this is who the Replucians gear there hatred to. It instills it in Bigots and slow thinking people who react in knee jerk reaction. These people like it in simple examples without complexities.
That is not the real world. And your hatred for the President shows and you are merely as usual taking another spoon feed lie to prop up your bigotry.
And you have shown me a quote from the wall street journal. It is an editorial. And I do not need to waste my time with it. Mainstream Media has called Romney out on every lie and not only do they continue to lie they keep the advertisements up. You are wrong and the editorial is wrong.
And the majority of the people realize the lies and disregard the advertisements as lies. And people like you will simply lose in November and keep feeding your hatred for another four years because the majority of the population recognizes crap when they see and they do not cling to your bigotry.
Your last paragraph was so racist I can not imagine how you can call yourself an American.
Why is it all White Supremists are an embaressment.
BTW I find it unlikely the House is going to meet this week for any reason. They have adjourned with meeting all of 12 during 3 months. This is an example of what the Republicans will give. Romney says trust me...Congress and I will work it out. We saw it under Bush. We saw it under Reagan.
Reagan promised just as Romney has ...a smaller government. It did not happen under Reagan. The size of gov. under Reagan grew. Why should we trust the same party that brought us the Great Recesion and over 16 Trillion in national debt.
Under Jimmy Carter who every Republicans miscasts as incompetent...under President Carter or National Debt was only 90 Billion.
It grew under Reagon to 7 Trillion or so. Under Clinton we saw a yearly surplus of $250 Billion. And for some reason (o yeah...Florida) Bush jr got in and the debt carried us to where we are now. The debt under O(bama was a result of the Ballout.
The Car companys have mostly paid us back and we own an interest in the rest.
I believe the banks have paid us back.
How can you say you want to go back to Reagan-Bush just because the Republican led House is blackmailing with blocking EVERYTHING.
Do you really want to go back...if then ...just for me ...do a write in vote for Neil Bush.
Why is Jeb and brother George make believe they have no third brother.
Then the old adage is correct--
Want to piss off a conservative, lie to him.
Want to piss off a liberal, tell him the truth.
Procrustes: "It's hard to remember now, but this summer Mitt Romney opened a useful debate about "dependency"—concerning President Obama's regulation to rewrite the 1996 welfare reform"
Mitt Romney's dad was one of the 47% "victims" ON WELFARE!
That's the truth! Did I piss you off????
Hopefully this terrorist will die of old age in Supermax. There is absolutely no reason to ever let him out of the building again. Of course, it would be OK if he decided to die unexpectedly, too.
Sorry, but no matter what the Republicans want to suggest/say I think the Obama administration is still very hard on terrorists, as it should be.
"Reports otherwise are false"? Republicans concerned about a deal with Egypt? hoo boy...
Anybody seen one of these reports? When you're dealing with RepublicansandDemocrats having one of their one party elections... you just cannot be cynical enough.
Personally, I'm looking at this news report as "bait". Bait implies a hook, so maybe it is better to deem this report as chum. How many clerics does Egypt have? How many undereducated, underemployed would be radicals does it have? How many of these radicals were even born when the blind sheik was active? Spend a couple of thousand dollars and hire some Egyptians who look roughly like the sheik to dress in Santa Clause hats with sunglasses on, and let them loose in the Egyptian public. It would be like sitings of Elvis, no credible proof, but plenty of witnesses. It's not like all of the undereducated, underemployed would be radicals all have a working computer, to cross reference 100 different sitings, nor for that matter any credible witness. What's the blind sheik to say, " Lies, lies, I saw it with my own eyes, the deceptions of those despicable Westerners ". The Egyptians, I think have as a population moved on from the blind sheik, from gullibility to political impracticalities.
Why is he wearing a Santa hat?
Does the blind sheik realize he's wearing a Santa hat and fashionable Ray-Bans in the photo?
Might I suggest pointing this out in particular to those who enjoy an amusing observation,and are as well,drinking milk
He can't see.
Muslims from the east, chinese from the west, and mexicans from the south.Canada,lets always be friends!
Arab/Muslim/African/ White mix. I never heard anything so stupid in my life. The rightwing nuts of this country have gone off the edge. They are dumber than rocks. There is no such thing an Arab race, nor Muslim (that is a religion), all black Americans roots are in Africa. That Obama is part white is a no brainer since his mother is white. Obama has never practiced the Islamic religion. Never. Also, considering Romney's goofy religion, I wouldn't bring it up. You might have to explain about the guy with the hat and the rock. The Republicans are grabbing at straws anyway to keep from Obama to be reelected. Making up dumb ass stories to try to convince people of some lie.
Harry: "Also, considering Romney's goofy religion, I wouldn't bring it up"
RIGHT ON! I borrow the following from another Vine poster (Chris 749391):
"It's interesting that the religious right clings to its gay-bashing but supports a Presidential candidate with SIX grandmothers (think of all those bizarrely-colored sweaters at Mormon christmas.) They hate "gay marriage" but support a candidate who has first degree polygamy in his immediate family.
This also applies to immigrant-bashing and then supporting a candidate whose father was an illegal immigrant from Mexico (covered extensively in the press during George Romney's failed Presidential
bid.)
And the worst of all is that the religious right calls Obama a Muslim then supports a non-Christian for President."
Ah the bliss of ignorance knows no bounds!
The entire story fabricated by the right wing nutters trying to instill more fear of Obama. One of these days a Right-tard is going to tell the truth and I'll die just minutes afterwards of a heart attack. Until then, take anything they say with a grain(or an ocean) of salt.
It's interesting that Egypt wants to have this criminal released as they'll probably level charges of cruel and inhumane treatment. Yet, if they caught any Americans trying to blow up a pyramid, they'd be imprisoned for life or killed on the spot.
Why would americans try to blow up a treasure for humanity like the pyramids ? Are you suggesting we could stoop to the level of P.O.S talibans ( remember they blew up the statues carved in the mountains) ?
It would follow the plotline under the current admin: Holder/Obama Admin. will wiggle and squirm their way to sending this bucket of slime back to Egypt and then profess it was in the best interest of .....? He did the deed; he pays the price and STAYS LOCKED UP IN OUR PRISON SYSTEM FOR LIFE.
Why are you accepting the statement from the former Republican AG as true in the first place. I can tell you the AG is lieing and you would tell me I was wrong. But why do you flatly accept what a person is saying in the press. Is it because you lean in the direction against the President in the first place. I honestly do not understand why people do not question this stuff. I am not trying to be rude.
Why would my statement of fact be so easily dismissed and yet you apparently do not question the validity of what someone is saying especially during an election.