Obama Meeting with Families of Cole and 9/11 Attacks

06 Feb, 2009 by Lorie Byrd

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President Obama has a meeting scheduled with families of those killed in the terrorist attack on the Cole and the families of 9/11 victims most likely to discuss with them dropping charges on one of the Cole bombers.

Andy McCarthy has been following this story closely.

…it is noteworthy that, before the appointing authority acted this evening, Obama had scheduled a meeting for tomorrow afternoon with victims and families of victims not only of the Cole bombing but of of the 9/11 attacks. At a minimum, he appeared poised to announce he was dropping the Cole charges against Nashiri. All evening, however, it has been floated from several knowledgeable sources that the president was prepared to announce the dismissal of all the commission cases — i.e., not only against Nashiri but against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other 9/11 plotters. That suggestion is supported by the fact that the 9/11 families were invited to the White House meeting: there would have been no need to invite them to discuss an announcement that impacted only the Cole case.

Dismissals, if they happened, would surely be couched as “without prejudice.” That is, Obama would be able to tell the families — whether he meant it or not — that he could always re-file military commission charges if he ultimately decided that commissions, rather than civilian trials, were the best way to go.

The Anchoress is following as well.

President Obama is going to talk to the families of 9/11 victims and those killed on the U.S.S.Cole. From what we have seen of the president these past few weeks, his talking to them will be very nice, and their concerns will have no affect on his position, whatsoever. Rather like “inviting” the opposition in for a talk and telling them, “I won.”

Michael Goldfarb has more details about the meeting:

According to the Post, among those who will be in attendance are family members opposed to the decision. Also quoted in the story is Retired Navy Cmdr. Kirk S. Lippold, the commanding officer on board the USS Cole when it was attacked in Yemen in October of 2000. He’s been a vocal critic of Obama’s order closing the facility, accusing the president of failing to take into account the effect his decision would have on the families of al Qaeda’s victims. The Post quotes one unnamed activist dramatically warning that the event may produce “fireworks.”

Michelle Malkin has more.

Related: Move America Forward has a new ad out about the closing of Gitmo.

Crossposted at Wizbangblog.com.