Why We Chose Not to Meet with President Obama

Yesterday we were driving back from Houston, Texas from obtaining a passport for my daughter so she could attend the arraignment of al-Nashiri who had helped in the Cole Bombing. We were expecting to leave for Gitmo no later than this Saturday. I knew that Obama would no doubt dismiss the charges against al-nashiri. Our government has repeatably found excuses so as not to take any action against the Cole bombers and or those who support them. Like the countries of Yemen and the Sudan. So it came as no surprise to me when an Obama's aide called to tell me that we had an invitation to attend a meeting where president Obama would explain his reasons for dismissing the charges against the terrorists. I told him that it was on a short notice and that we would not be attending.

Why attend a meeting when you already know the inevitable outcome. And President Obama has already signed the order to close Gitmo, and a request to stop the trials. Which they did. With only one judge who had the strength, courage and conviction to stand up for the murdered sailors and say that al-nashiri's arraignment would go forward. So anyway I asked the aide if he would please get my letter to Obama instead. He said he would if I faxed it. I had wrote Obama a letter the previous week pleading with him to change his mind. I faxed the letter later that same day. I knew that I would have to tell my wife later on when we got home that our murdered son's trail had become a victim of petty politics. And that she would be upset and hurt yet again.

I wish that our government would not play the head games that they have played with the victims families. Its extremely disrespectful of the victims and their families. The government could have stopped this charade that there was going to be a trial after Obama had requested that there would be no trials in the first place. But instead my daughter took time off from work to make a 400 mile round trip to purchase a passport that she will probably never need. And of course she had to experience another let down when Obama's aide called. And my wife as well.

The trials of our son's killers have become a heated political debate, and a political weapon that the liberals are using to get back at the past Bush administration, and the republican party. While the victims murders go unanswered, and the feelings of their families are taken on a emotional roller coaster ride.

While my family, myself and a good majority of Americans are wondering how can the Military Commissions Tribunals which were approved by congress can be overturned a by a President who does not agree with them. That's not a democracy. That's more like how President Saleh in Yemen acted after our son's killers were tried in their courts. Saleh intervened for the killers and Al-Qaeda and then reduced their sentences, and pardoned others. And had the other Cole Bombers tried on unrelated charges, and then freed. As victims we had hoped that our own government would show us a little more respect. Wrong!

Back in 2000 right after the attack on the Cole we refused to meet with President Clinton, and I also refused to speak with Vice President Gore. For that decision we were housed in a different BAQ at Norfolk than the other families. And the next day we were not allowed in to the Memorial Services for the sailors of the Cole attack. It took the Commanding Officer of the base to get us in to the services, and up front with the rest of the families. I relate that story because I was not going to tell the news at first why we did not go and meet with Obama. But my wife insisted that I tell someone, and that our son deserves a trial. Its long overdue. So I did. I am not saying that Obama would react as childish as Clinton did. I don't think he would. But I did not want to see anymore head games on the part of the government. And by the way I have plenty of witnesses for that fiasco, plus a letter of apology from the base commander. And our Escort officer was there too at the time, and did her best to try and get us in with the rest of the families.

I am sick to death of all the support that these terrorists have here in America. From Human Rights Groups to the far left loonies. I am working at obtaining a lawyer to find out if we the victim's families and the actual victims have any constitutional rights. Are if those rights are only reserved for the terrorists who murdered our son. I have grown weary and tired of watching my sons mother and sister be hurt by their own government time after time again.

I like to think that if President Obama was in my shoes, and one of his own children had been murdered by a terrorists that he as the father would go to any lengths with in the law to make sure that his murdered child received justice. And God forbid that such a thing should ever happen to him, and his family. I would never wish such a thing on any person.

We chose not to meet with Clinton because we had no respect for the man. We knew he had done nothing for the victims of the Embassy bombings, and expected that he would make only empty promises like he had after all the other bombings on his watch. We were right. My decision as not to meet President Obama was not because I disrespected the man, but that he had already made his decision quite clear to everyone. Maybe Obama will have the terrorists tried at a later date. We hope so. We also hope that he will not return anymore Yemenis from Gitmo back to Saleh of Yemen to be freed. Not until he tells Saleh to turn over the Cole terrorists for a trial here in America. But then again would they ever go to trial even if they were extradited back to America?

I just read where the White House speaker for Obama stated "the president is interested in swift justice". 8 friking long years to bring one of the terrorists to trial to only have the charges dismissed on the terrorist! And that's Obama's idea of swift justice? Oh please!