OT- Betcha didn't see this on the evening news

Mike D. · Post by **Mike D.** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:15 am

Sentence of Richard Reid

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it?

Did you know his trial is over?
Did you know he was sentenced?
Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?

Didn't think so.
Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.
Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.

Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he
had anything to say. His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stating, "I think I will not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."

Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:

January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid. Judge Young:

"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you.

On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General. On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)

On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million. The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.

The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment.
The Court imposes up on you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence.

Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to everyone with the utmost respect. Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice.

You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier. You are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

So war talk is way out of line in this court. You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: "You're no big deal."

You are no big deal.

What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today?

I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.

We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bare any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure.

Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done. The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.

Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down.

So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets? We need more judges like Judge Young, but that's another subject. Pass this around. Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say. Powerful words that strike home. God bless America. And America get on your knees and give thanks to Him for blessing you and allowing you to live in this GREAT country.

JReed · Post by **JReed** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:52 am

Darn right we need more judges like that. That just brightend my day.

levers · Post by **levers** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:49 pm

It's hard to believe that happened in 2003....it seems like it was just yesterday!

Nath · Post by **Nath** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:40 pm

Thank God he was not tried in Britt, he would of got say 25 years and not had to pay a bean. If he behaved he would be out in say 12-15 years. He could claim mental illness and get even less time. He would have a good cell with TV, games and no hard work. Lord I lothe my country

C. Cash · Post by **C. Cash** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 1:41 pm

Yessir, that's the way it's supposed to work.

El Mac · Post by **El Mac** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:33 pm

Too bad he wasn't hung publically immediately following that speech.

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:36 pm

Powerful speach. Brilliant justice!
Nath, I couldn't agree more, we need this sort of common sense in the UK.

oldgerboy · Post by **oldgerboy** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:25 pm

El Mac ... I sort of feel that would give him too much recognition, but, since he loves his Muslim religion, sentence him with that in mind.

His hand tried to light the match ... remove the offending appendage.
His foot harbored the bomb ... remove the offending appendage.
His brain shelters the belief and thought up the situation ...

guess what we do to the offending appendage.

Yep, that's right!

phlatnose · Post by **phlatnose** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 7:53 pm

The sentence is weak and pathetic.
Sounds like the judge was trying to put on a noteworthy show.
110 years for offences. Probation period. 2million in fines. A couple of hundred dollars for this, and a few more bucks for that.
Guess what. He will never serve 80yrs., and how is he supposed to pay the 2 million? I am surprised Reid never stuck his finger up to the judge, and laughed in the face of justice. After all, what could Reid lose.
I do not understand why he was not sentenced to be executed. Treason, crimes against the state, heck, make a new provision in law to allow the execution of these people.
A 25cent bullet after the trial with no publicity would be a just end.

Doe he have to pay compounded interest on the 2 mill?
Just my opinion.

Post by **Old Savage** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:15 pm

About time!

jd45 · Post by **jd45** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:24 pm

You know phlatnose, you make sense . He TRIED to kill those people. Because he didn't succeed, doesn't make his crime any less severe. I say EXECUTE HIM!!! AND IMMEDIATELY...........NO APPEAL!!! jd45

LeverBob · Post by **LeverBob** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:01 pm

I like the Russian way...handcuff him to a chainlink fence & shoot him between the eyes.
Where do these dirtbags come from? Who is breeding filth like this? When do we get to rid this country of obscentities like this? (Rhetoricals, boys)
Someday..just maybe, someday.

LeverBob

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:24 pm

Better yet, in honor of his "religion", do the Black Jack Pershing method. Tie him to a stake; dig a pit in front of him; let him know this is going to be his grave; bring over a pig, slaughter it (sorry Ji!) in the pit; maybe dip your bullets in the pig's blood for good measure; shoot the *** with said bullets and dump his body in the pit.

Then broadcast it letting the world know this is what waits for them!