9/11 and the Terrorist Trials at GTMO

?hi Everyone,

- This is LONG and Meaningful

Sooo, lots of news in the last few days about 9/11. Prior to the "Pre-Trial Agreement announced yesterday, I had agreed to go back to GTMO for more 9/11 Pre-Trial Hearings. Typically it is a week of visiting with other families, the Prosecution Team, Defense Council etc, while observing the pre-trial motions, testimony and procedures.

With the breaking news yesterday, my trip next week will be a bit different.

While 3 of the 5 defendants have agreed to the Pre-Trial Agreement, 2 have not. Negotiations are on going, and I am informed that there will be some testimony on Monday and Tuesday. Not sure about Wednesday. Possibly resulting in all 5 accepting the agreement.

But on Thursday, ksm the master mind of 9/11, the person who came up w the idea on how to kill my little brother Ralph and almost 3000 others will stand up in court.

ksm will admit that he plotted to kill Ralph and so many others who just went to work that day, for no reason other than his hatred of Americans and Western Society. When he does this. I WILL BE IN THE COURT ROOM. I will bear witness for Ralph and all the others. I will watch this little man confess his hatred as Justice will close the case on him and his co-conspirators.

Now a few things as an aside:

Pre-Trial Agreement - In typical courts this is referred to as a Plea Deal. As we are in a Military Court, it is a Pre-Trial Agreement. Similar but also different as they involve different law. Death Penalty - While I do favour a number more liberal views such as health care for all etc. I do believe the Death Penalty has a place is a moral and just society. I will come back to this in a moment

Guilty Verdict in Trial - While we were working towards trail dates, and in my conversations with the Defense Councils for ksm et al, I encouraged them to fight for their clients. As one of the Council said, go down every rabbit hole he could to prevent a guilty verdict. Because when they were convicted after every possible defense. I wanted NO QUESTION that they were given the BEST defense possible, and still convicted. We know they are guilty and this would be the outcome all the families wanted and expected.

Back to my essay...

Which takes me back to the Death Penalty. Once they were convicted beyond a doubt, yes I wanted them to be executed. I feel it is the most severe penalty under our laws and this was one of the most severe crimes in humanity. Killing innocents for simply going to work?? WTF.

So this Pre-Trial Agreement will avoid the death penalty for these terrorists. While I am for the death penalty, I also understand the realities of life, law and this elongated legal process.

While I am confident they would have been found guilty, I am not as confident the Jury would have sentenced them to death. Mainly due to the tortures they endured in custody once removed from the battle fields. I do not condone torture at all as it lowers us to their level. To be a Just Society with laws and morals, we need to hold ourselves above those that would take a human life over an ideology of Hate. Therefore, while not ideal, I do agree that this Pre-Trial Agreement is the best path forward at this time.

I will watch them confess their crimes and I will be there for Ralph. None of this will bring back my little brother, but we will move forward.

A month ago, when I agreed to go as a victim family representative on Saturday, thoughts of this agreement occurring prior or during my trip was not expected. However, the timing will allow me to be there at the most significant conclusion of these cases. While happy is the wrong term, I do appreciate that I will be seeing this in person, in GTMO, for Ralph.

Thank you. With love, appreciation and in Ralph's memory.

www.ralphgerhardt.com

? Copyright of Stephan J Gerhardt

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