I've witnessed first-hand the "jurisprudence" of juries made up of military officers.

Don't get me wrong; they're a courageous bunch.

But there are times when their massive egos crush their brains.

But, hey, look on the bright side... maybe they revoked his driver's license. That'll show 'im.

Posted by: undaunted at August 7, 2008 5:25 PM

Good thing they didn't catch him driving while impaired.

They might have given him an extra 200 hours of community service.

Posted by: Kuffar at August 7, 2008 5:46 PM

I remember a little bit ago hearing some of the antiamericans complaining that a military jury would be hopelessly biased against any defendant.

The main reason I would want military courts to try these people, (the ones that are due trial) is that when the first wtc bombers were tried the judge forced the government to reveal how they obtained information, which made the method used totally usless as the antiamerican lawyer made sure that the methods were publicized.

I was not there hearing the evidence, but I have a high degree of trust in the men and women that serve our nation. I would hope that these military trials are more concerned with getting to the truth of the matter and not as concerned with gamesmanship as our civilian courts have become.

Posted by: stickman at August 7, 2008 5:56 PM

From the story:

"I hope the day comes that you return to your wife and daughters and your country, and you're able to be a provider, a father and a husband in the best sense of all those terms," the judge told Hamdan."

Afterwards, the judge, Navy Capt. Keith Allred, amended his remarks to include:

"... and don't you be transporting any more rocket launcher parts."

Posted by: Paleologus at August 7, 2008 6:01 PM

At the end of his 5 months, then what? A guaranteed job as a cabbie in NYC or a free ride back to Afghanistan?

Posted by: boneshack at August 7, 2008 6:01 PM

You're right, stickman; military courts are better suited for this than civilian courts.

A civilian jury probably would have apologized to Hamdan for the inconvenience and given him lovely parting gifts.

Posted by: undaunted at August 7, 2008 6:02 PM

I think the Bush Administration pushed hard for military tribunals, because they assumed that military judges would be much tougher on defendants than those "liberal" civilian judges. But being tough is not the same thing as a show trial with a politically preordained outcome. The military was NOT about to make an example out of Hamdan as a propaganda exercise, which I think is what the prosecutors were hoping for. Rather, they gave him the sentence they thought he was worth. Which wasn't much.

Posted by: Steven L. at August 7, 2008 6:02 PM

My concern is what happens when he is released. Is he going to be released here in the U.S.? Is he going to be given refugee status and given a house and job at taxpayer expense? Or is he going to be given "temp" housing at the Hilton until they find another country to take him where there isn't a chance of him being tortured (similar to the situation in Norway)?

Or just drop him off in Pakistan and kill him on the battlefield in Afghanistan or Iraq in six months?

Posted by: walterc at August 7, 2008 6:03 PM

5 months and then what? Sent back to drive again?
Or is he going to stay awhile...

Posted by: gymgal at August 7, 2008 6:04 PM

wanna bet he takes up arms upon arrival at designated Muslim country?.

Posted by: exsgtbrown at August 7, 2008 6:10 PM

Allred also reported to admonish sternly: And don't be hanging 'round with riff-raff anymore, okay? Promise?

Posted by: undaunted at August 7, 2008 6:12 PM

He'll be out soon.. there's work waitng for him in New York!

Plenty of cabbies here who love bin Laden!

Milwaukee may also work for this creep.

Posted by: Ummah Gummah at August 7, 2008 6:21 PM

I have no doubt we will continue to treat these vermin with Marques of Queensbury rules UNTIL one of them gets really successful (e.g. suitcase nuke) ... but then it will be too late. You would think the "too late" charge was already in effect, post 911.

We are prosecuting this war with our head so far up our *ss; I am ashamed of Bush.

Posted by: Paleologus at August 7, 2008 6:42 PM

Also from the article:

"It remains unclear what will happen to Hamdan once his sentence is served, since the U.S. military has said it won't release anyone who still represents a threat."

Does this mean they can keep him indefinitely?

Posted by: Ladywolfnl at August 7, 2008 6:57 PM

Treating those who would slice your head off with a dull butcher so mildly guarantees future millions vaporized or plague slaughtered once such terrorist scum get a little better at killing naive infidel dogs.

Posted by: profitsbeard at August 7, 2008 7:05 PM

profitsbeard,

I agree.

I seriously doubt that Osama Bin Laden would have had a driver that didn't share his views and support him.

Posted by: The Cool Ghoul at August 7, 2008 7:50 PM

the aclu and others dhimmi groups are still bitching and winning that he was even arested at all

Posted by: ISLAMSNOTFORME at August 7, 2008 8:09 PM

ISLAMSNOTFORME..

LOL.. I don't watch TV but the coverage and the outrage has been ongoing on "n"pr..

LOL

How **DARE** we detain and court martial - or is it marshal - this Obama.. or is it Osama.. cab driver?

They simply cannot get over the fact that not everyone in this country has been neuterer yet like they have.

Posted by: Ummah Gummah at August 7, 2008 8:16 PM

"I have no doubt we will continue to treat these vermin with Marques of Queensbury rules UNTIL one of them gets really successful (e.g. suitcase nuke) ... but then it will be too late. You would think the "too late" charge was already in effect, post 911.

We are prosecuting this war with our head so far up our *ss; I am ashamed of Bush."

I agree completely on the last two points, though I think for different reasons.

One driver got the five-year sentence he rated. Whatever intel he had has either been acted on or been past its sell-by date for half a decade. He's worth nothing, save as a propaganda sop to people who demand something big and flashy be done about this here war on terror.

Wait for the big wheels to get their sentences, then you might have an excuse to go get the sackcloth and ashes.

Posted by: Not Telling at August 7, 2008 8:22 PM

But it's good to treat this guy harshly so that others will think before they get involved with the Bin Laden types.

Let him drive his own car!

Posted by: Ummah Gummah at August 7, 2008 9:08 PM

These so-called soldiers are nothing but compromised vermin that have infested the armed forces. There is nothing special or noble about a soldier that does not fight for a noble cause. These degenerates are void of mind and robotic. They simply follow their tummies and would as soon represent North Korea as America. Smart idiots, capable retards is what they are, fooling us into believing they are something they are not by wearing the uniform of a noble nation with high values they do not comprehend. I hope to God they read these posts and come to their senses.

Posted by: Max Publius at August 7, 2008 9:49 PM

wanna bet he takes up arms upon arrival at designated Muslim country?.

Posted by: exsgtbrown

If so, then kill him there. No more taking of prisoners. No more surrenders. Just kill them.

Posted by: PMK at August 7, 2008 10:34 PM

Five months. Five months?

Okay.

What federal institution will he be held in?

I ask only because I want to be there on the day of his releaae.

I have some friends who will be happy to volunteer to give Hamdan a ride to wherever he wants to go upon his release. Wherever.

I can assure Hamdan he'll arrive wherever he wants to go. In one pieces.

Five months. Five months?

Posted by: omvi at August 8, 2008 12:11 AM

That's 1 month less than William Zantzinger.

Posted by: Fat Byzantine at August 8, 2008 1:03 AM

But stuff like this from the Duranty Times:

“After that, I don’t know what happens,” said Judge Allred, who had developed a warm relationship with Mr. Hamdan during months of pretrial hearings.

And:

Mr. Hamdan, who at times has shown a mischievous sense of humor, raised his arms and said a good-natured, “Bye, bye everybody.”

And:

“Inshallah,” Judge Allred responded.

And:

Mr. Hamdan’s answer to his safety if returned to Yemen, Professor Schmitz said, was: “Look, you guys get me out of Gitmo. I’ll take care of Yemen.”

Speechless..........Fortunately I can still type.

This is clearly a war our Government doesn't intend to 'win', as such.

If I were on trial I am fairly certain I wouldn't be 'showing a mischievous sense of humor'. What about the impartiality of the Judge? He developed a warm relationship with a defendant?!?!??! Does he even understand what 'inshallah' means? No, it's not as simple as 'god willing', you utter moron!

We are so screwed if this is the best we can do.

Posted by: Abu_Lahab at August 8, 2008 6:19 AM

His prosecution was not worth the effort. If this is the best we can do we should be honest about it and just quit doing that which is completely stupid.

Posted by: Spot on at August 8, 2008 9:40 AM

Meanwhile, our brave soldiers spend years in prison for doing their duty.

This is totally unbelievable.

Posted by: 1american at August 8, 2008 12:00 PM

I served on a special courts martial in '54. The routine sentence for AWOL was 6 months as I recall, the max that a special could dish out. And this guy drove for Bin Laden? Anyone know what did Hitler"s driver got?

Posted by: Jimmy Bones at August 9, 2008 4:10 AM

"These so-called soldiers are nothing but compromised vermin that have infested the armed forces. There is nothing special or noble about a soldier that does not fight for a noble cause. These degenerates are void of mind and robotic. They simply follow their tummies and would as soon represent North Korea as America. Smart idiots, capable retards is what they are, fooling us into believing they are something they are not by wearing the uniform of a noble nation with high values they do not comprehend. I hope to God they read these posts and come to their senses."

Let me get this straight: they're OUR BRAVE TROOPS when they do things like shoot books for target practice, but they're "degenerates" and "retards" when they hand out sentences that are insufficiently draconian for your tastes? Is that about the gist of it?

You're a very special boy, Max. Stick to making your insipid photo posts on blogspot.

Posted by: Not Telling at August 9, 2008 5:10 AM

I'm glad the guy is getting out early. He just seems like an average, undereducated guy who wasn't particularly associated with terrorism, and he's already done five years. That's enough punishment. Let's go after the real terrorists, and quit clogging up our legal system with drivers and other minor characters.

Posted by: friskodude at August 9, 2008 2:08 PM

"....go after the real terrorists, and quit clogging up our legal system with drivers and other minor characters."

I respectfully disagree that this person was such a minor character. It's precisely minor characters like him who keep the wheels turning. And no matter how "uneducated" he is, I would never believe that he didn't know exactly waht type of "business" his boss was in. I don't think he should ever be released.

Posted by: charlie at August 9, 2008 6:30 PM