Judge Coughenour: Your arrogance is exceeded only by your contempt for the lives of your fellow citizens.
Hugh Hewitt - July 27, 2005 03:17 PM PST
Earlier today the millenium bomber --Ahmed Ressam- caught with a trunkful of explosives on his way to blow up LAX on December 31, 1999, was sentenced to a total of 22 years in jail. The 5.5 years Ressam has already spent in jail counts against the sentence, and he could get an additional 3 years off for good behavior. He could be out by the time he hits his 53rd birthday, before 2020 rolls around.
In other words, Ressam can return to plotting to kill hundreds of Americans and their families while returning from Christmas travels in the prime of his life.
What in the world do Islamicists the world over think about this?
The sentence was handed down by Judge John Coughenour, a federal district court judge in Seattle, Washington. Here's what the judge said when he handed down the sentence:
"Okay. Let me say a few things. First of all, it will come as no surprise to anybody that this sentencing is one that I have struggled with a great deal, more than any other sentencing that I've had in the 24 years I've been on the bench.
"I've done my very best to arrive at a period of confinement that appropriately recognizes the severity of the intended offense, but also recognizes the practicalities of the parties' positions before trial and the cooperation of Mr. Ressam, even though it did terminate prematurely
The message I would hope to convey in today's sentencing is twofold:
"First, that we have the resolve in this country to deal with the subject of terrorism and people who engage in it should be prepared to sacrifice a major portion of their life in confinement.
"Secondly, though, I would like to convey the message that our system works. We did not need to use a secret military tribunal, or detain the defendant indefinitely as an enemy combatant, or deny him the right to counsel, or invoke any proceedings beyond those guaranteed by or contrary to the United States Constitution.
"I would suggest that the message to the world from today's sentencing is that our courts have not abandoned our commitment to the ideals that set our nation apart. We can deal with the threats to our national security without denying the accused fundamental constitutional protections.
"Despite the fact that Mr. Ressam is not an American citizen and despite the fact that he entered this country intent upon killing American citizens, he received an effective, vigorous defense, and the opportunity to have his guilt or innocence determined by a jury of 12 ordinary citizens.
"Most importantly, all of this occurred in the sunlight of a public trial. There were no secret proceedings, no indefinite detention, no denial of counsel.
"The tragedy of September 11th shook our sense of security and made us realize that we, too, are vulnerable to acts of terrorism.
"Unfortunately, some believe that this threat renders our Constitution obsolete. This is a Constitution for which men and women have died and continue to die and which has made us a model among nations. If that view is allowed to prevail, the terrorists will have won.
"It is my sworn duty, and as long as there is breath in my body I'll perform it, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. We will be in recess."
Whatever the message the judge hoped to send, the one he in fact did send was to Islamicists all around the globe: Come to America. Try and kill us. Either you succeed and get to your version of heaven, or you'll get a second chance 22 years later after spending a couple of decades setting up networks that can help you with round 2.
The arrogance of this renegade judge's lecture is simply beyond belief. Congress should summon the judge to testify as to his inane remarks, but precede and follow his appearnce with panels comprised of vitims of terror and the families of military killed in the war.
I am ashamed to say Judge Coughenour is a Reagan appointee.
UPDATE:
More on the judge:
Before his appointment to the bench by President Reagan in 1981, Jack was a partner and top trial lawyer at Bogle & Gates. Some of the notable cases over which he has presided include the trial of anti-government activists purportedly involved in a pipe-bomb conspiracy; a decision upholding the state’s rules to prevent oil spills; finding that the INS violated immigrants rights to a fair hearing, resulting in new deportation hearings for thousands of immigrants; sentencing in a bogus airplane parts case; and ruling the sexual predator statute unconstitutional.
You may also want to contrast this sentencing with the sentence handed down to the shoe bomber, who threatened far fewer people than did Ressam.
UPDATE:
Contrast today's sentence with the sentences for the Abu Ghraib guards. Note that Ressam could be out two years before Lyndie England. This comparison is not intended to excuse or minimize the sentences handed down in these cases, all of which I assume represent justice, but instead to illustrate the absurdity of today's sentencing by a judge who seemed more intent on lecturing Americans than protecting them:
Charles Graner: 36 years old -- 10 year sentence
Ivan Frederick: 8 year sentence
Jeremy Sivits: 1 year sentence
Armin Cruz: 8 month sentence
Lynndie England: pled guilty, facing 11-16 year sentence
UPDATE:
This judge sentenced the Montana militiamen a few years back:
Billings, Mont. - Seven leaders of the anti-government Montana Freemen were sentenced to stiff prison terms for conspiring against the nation's banking system, though a judge spared more jail time for two of the defendants' wives.
U.S. District Judge John Coughenour yesterday ordered ringleader LeRoy Schweitzer to 22 1/2 years behind bars, hoping to send "a loud and clear message to those who pass this hatred and ugliness around."
HT: View from a Height
UPDATE:
Judge Coughenour is a blusterer from way back, the perfect example of what life-time tenure does to the ego, and a reminder of why Democrats should not be allowed to obstruct President Bush's effort to place serious people on the bench. Coughenour is obviously a product of cronyism, and cronyism gets you this sort of decision-making.
My guess is, though, that most terrorists attempting to cross into America will be reworking their travel plans on the chance that, if arrested, they get hauled before Judge C.
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