Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/341783
WASHINGTON Justiceisblind, and for about 10 minutes Wednesday she couldn't hear or speak either. Ahmed Abu Khattala, al- leged mastermind of the Beng- hazi attacks, took his place at the defense table for his de- tention hearing and put on his headset. But as soon as pro- ceedings began, the accused terrorist let it be known that he wasn't hearing the English-to- Arabic translation. "One, two, one, two," at- tempted the interpreter, who sat at a table behind Abu Khat- tala's. "Are you speaking English?," the public defender, Michelle Peterson, asked the interpreter. "I'm speaking Arabic," the interpreter answered, in Eng- lish. A clerk walked over to inves- tigate. Magistrate Judge Debo- rah Robinson's face tightened into a perturbed grin. "We will proceed as soon as this prob- lem is resolved," she said. For the next several minutes, lawyers, clerks, interpreter and Libyan militant fiddled with the audio. There was much head-shaking and pressing of buttons on the translation con- sole. "Ms. Peterson, turn his headset the other way. ... It's too loud. ... One, two, one, two. ... It only gets Channel 2. ... Let me try it my way. ... One, two, three, one, two, three." The judge's assistant picked up a telephone. "Angelise," she said, "can you come to Court- room 4? We may need a lit- tle help with the interpreting equipment." Those who favored send- ing Abu Khattala to Gitmo will perhaps think the translation trouble proves their point. But Wednesday's proceedings at the U.S. District Court — the early stages of the biggest ter- rorism case to be tried in the nation's capital — also showed what is right about civilian courts. The accused could see that he was represented by a legal team — Peterson and her as- sistant — that vigorously chal- lenged the government's case. He could hear the judge mak- ing sure he understood his rights, and prosecutors assur- ing the judge they would share the evidence against Abu Khat- tala with the defense. As important, the world could see (or learn from those in the courtroom, broadcasting via five satellite trucks parked outside the courthouse) that the prisoner was treated with dignity: He sat unshackled, and, through his lawyer, he en- tered a request for a halal diet and an Arabic-language Koran. It was far better treatment than was given the four Ameri- cans killed in the Sept. 11, 2012, attacks that Abu Khattala al- legedly coordinated. Doors were bolted at the court's main entrance, just a few blocks from the Capitol. Two men carrying pistols and machine guns patrolled near the statue of Sir William Black- stone. The open-to-the-public session was jammed — thanks to the many law-firm interns and clerks who had come as terror-trial tourists — and some spectators were sent to an overflow room. Abu Khattala, led in by two beefy marshals in business suits, was in a green jump- suit with fading letters spell- ing "PRISONER" on the back. His wild gray hair and equally unruly beard made him look two decades older than his 43 years. Abu Khattala appeared disoriented in court over the weekend, but this time he seemed to be following the pro- ceedings closely. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mi- chael DiLorenzo, one of five people at the prosecution ta- ble, recalled the tragic events of 2012. "They discharged their weapons" and "set fire to the building," he said, and "this led to the deaths of Ambassador Christopher Stevens and in- formation officer Sean Smith." DiLorenzo then described the mortar attack that killed Glen Doherty and Tyrone Woods. DiLorenzo noted, with a bit of understatement, that "the history and character of the defendant" — commander of an armed militia that is des- ignated a terrorist organiza- tion — weighed against releas- ing him. Peterson didn't argue oth- erwise. She even tried to de- fend Abu Khattala's character. "He spent a decade fighting the Gaddafi regime and spent nu- merous years in prison" as a consequence, she said. In response to prosecu- tors' claims that Abu Khattala was found armed, she said it's "a bit of a stretch" to suggest that "someone armed in Libya is akin to someone armed in D.C." And she said prosecu- tors should not be allowed to "taint" Abu Khattala as "dan- gerous" in the eyes of prospec- tive jurors. It was probably more than the accused terrorist deserves, but exactly what he's entitled to in the American justice system. Even the audio worked, in the end. As Abu Khattala rose to be escorted from the courtroom, one of the marshals reminded him that he first needed to re- move his headset. FollowDanaMilbankonTwit- ter, @Milbank. Dana Milbank American justice for the world to see TrueRedBluffspirit Editor: I found not only a true Amer- ican spirit but a true Red Bluff spirit Friday. I was putting up flags for the Healthy Hotdog BBQ at Fron- tier Village Farmers Market and went by A&R Meats on the off chance it was open. I had Turri Farms deliver their all beef wie- ners for the barbecue A&R and thought maybe I would pick them up Friday rather than Sat- urday morning. As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed it was closed. No big deal, I would get the hot- dogs Saturday morning. As I drove through I noticed the sign on the door announc- ing it was closed Friday for the 4th and Saturday. Oh no, my hotdogs. My event was Saturday based on those dogs. Luckily I had Dwayne Casteel's phone number and gave him a quick call, praying he was still in town, as I knew Russ was not. Yep, he answered and came straight down to his meat market and got my hot- dogs for me. So thankful we live in a friendly, beautiful town and an amazing country. My vote for business of the year is A&R Meats for outstanding customer service. — Sandra Burkett, Red Bluff Every cloud has a silver lining Editor: For sure, things have not gone well lately for the US De- partment of Veterans Affairs. The ever-growing scandal re- lated to the poor quality of medical care provided is star- tling to say the least. While all of Rome appears to be burning, there are areas of service within the VA that are excelling and deserve to be rec- ognized for the outstanding medical services they are pro- viding to America's veterans. One such area is the VA Med- ical Clinic in Redding. I suspect there are others. Since retiring from the Air Force some eight year ago, I have had many opportunities to frequent the clinic and rely on their services for my healthcare needs. In every instance, they have excelled. Today, I offer my thanks and appreciation to all who work so hard each day at the Redding VA Clinic to serve my medical needs and for all they do each day to meet the needs of Amer- ica's veterans. Keep up the good work. The American Heritage Dic- tionary defines silver lining as "A hopeful or comforting pros- pect in the midst of difficulty." Dare I say, the Redding VA Medical Clinic is that silver lin- ing in an otherwise dark, omi- nous cloud over the USDVA. — Pete Stiglich, Cottonwood Bilderberg Editor: One of the world's most se- cretive organizations just con- cluded its annual meeting in Copenhagen Denmark, the re- sults of which will once again have far reaching consequences for all members of the global community. Unfamiliar with the name and activities? Undoubtedly by design, because it has been operating in relative secrecy and obscurity for the past 60 years, with hardly a men- tion by the U.S. corporate con- trolled main stream media. Their modus operandi is to iso- late a huge hotel complex, sur- round it with a tight cordon of heavily armed Police and Mili- tary personnel and deny access to all but credentialed and in- vited guests. Attendees are predominantly members of the western Elite, including movers and shak- ers from Government, Royalty, Heads of State, Banks, Wall St., Corporations, Media(!), Mili- tary, Universities et al. For in- stance, current and past guests, in no particular order, include Henry Kissinger, Lawrence Summers, David Rockefeller, Tim Geithner, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Eric Schmidt, pre-President Ford and Clinton, Jack Welsh, Gen. Petraeus, Rob- ert Zoellic, Ben Bernanke, John Kerry, Jeff Bezos, Chuck Ha- gel, Paul Volcker, to name just a few of these heavy hitters who surprisingly always seem posi- tioned to establish a consensus, despite the existing entrenched confrontational political divi- sion, evidently by keeping their eyes unflinchingly fixed on the dubious prize. Simultaneously, groups like the Roundtable, Council on Foreign Relations and Trilat- eral Commission also travel a path similar to the Bilderberg- ers, in conjunction with the World Bank, IMF, GATT, WTO, NAFTA, CAFTA, TPP, and many other cartels and special interest groups which operate in total secrecy, yet effectively hold sway over the lives and fu- ture of not only the vast ma- jority of U.S. citizens, but bil- lions of others in the world at large, who are likewise unrep- resented, abandoned and sold out by their system or govern- ment. This phalanx of powerful in- stitutions and individuals along with their alphabet soup of trade agreements, exclusively focused on global control by a concentration of power, wealth and profit, basically operates in a vacuum, relatively free of pesky encumbrances such as demands for inclusion, trans- parency and oversight by WE the PEOPLE, and alas will even- tually preside over the funeral of Freedom and Democracy, af- ter it succumbs to the unrelent- ing pressure and final eviscer- ation. In pursuit of the truth, why not follow a wise biblical exhor- tation, by allowing our eyes to see and ears to hear above the ever present deafening din and impenetrable smoke screen? — Joe Bahlke, Red Bluff Your opinions Cartoonist's take ADAMZYGLIS‑THEBUFFALONEWS You don't hear much about the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. And that, my friends, is a good thing. Usually this federal of- fice is as controversial as parsley wrapped celery. On a 1-10 scale of boring, patent law has to rate about a 3,000. That's normally. But recently this obscure agency has thrown football fans into rag- ing fits. Real football. Where guys in helmets use their hands to throw or carry some spheroid object. Not faux football, where athletes direct a round ball with their feet. In a 2-1 ruling, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board stripped the Washington Redskins of six trademark registrations after concluding the football team's name was disparaging to Na- tive Americans, and thus in violation of laws ban- ning offensive language. Although to many Amer- icans it's the locational part of the name that is most repugnant. Espe- cially those Americans known to party with cups of tea. The USPTO made a simi- lar ruling back in 1999, but it was overturned, and may very well be again. Because as we all know, the government is fond of doing the same thing over and over and over again. Expecting different results. Conservatives fear this kind of political correctness will snowball, causing many nick- names to be spurned. For in- stance: should the Pittsburgh Pirates be compelled to switch their name because it's offen- sive to families who have been pillaged? The Green Bay Pack- ers due to folks harboring nightmares concerning bro- ken lamps? The commissioners could forestall this movement by declaring all sports teams be named after marsupials. What about the Fight- ing Irish? Does anybody re- ally think that drunken Lep- rechauns with fists cocked are responsible role models for to- day's university students? The Utah Jazz is an odious appel- lation to anybody possessing a modicum of musical taste. And the name of the state of Okla- homa is Choctaw for red people. Should they be forced to repeal their name or can we just get rid of the state altogether? How about individuals? Doesn't the same logic mandate that anybody named Manson or Hitler alter their name so as not to remind victims' rela- tives of their grisly crimes? Ad- olf? Charlie? What about Bush? Clinton? Kardashian? And if Daniel Snyder, the owner of the 3rd most valu- able NFL franchise, according to Forbes Magazine, does cave to the rising cries of boycott, which direction will he head? Report- edly, the team has already filed for the trademark of Washington Warriors, but that doesn't really distill the essence of the town. The Senators won't work. Base- ball tried and it depressed the players so much the team was forced to move. Twice. He could capture the true spirit of the town with... the Washington Slippery Slopes. The Ethical Slid- ers. Corrupters. Prevaricators. The Hogs works and even has senti- mental ties. If you want intimidating, how bout the Washington Lobbyists? The Patent Lawyers. Under Secre- taries. The Filibusterers. The Kick- backs has a vague football feel. The Mindless Horde. The Red Inks wouldn't necessitate the need to buy new letters for the stadium ex- terior. But, if honoring the proud in- digenous nations of America is, as the team claims, the actual goal, how about the Washington Treaty Breakers. Or the Plague Blankets — which is pretty damn scary. And finally, to keep the natural rivalry with the Dallas Cowboys intact — the Washington Barbed Wires. Email Will at durst@caglecar- toons.com. Visit to willdurst. com to find about more about his new CD, "Elect to Laugh" and calendar of personal ap- pearances. Will Durst How long until 'The Washington Treaty Breakers' exist? GregStevens, Publisher Chip Thompson, Editor EDITORIAL BOARD How to have your say: Letters must be signed and provide the writer's home street address and home phone number. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition‑style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and no more than two double‑spaced pages or 500words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section will be published. Email: editor@red bluffdailynews.com Phone: 530‑527‑ 2151ext. 112 Mail to: P.O. Box 220, 545 Diamond Ave., Red Bluff, CA 96080 Facebook: Leave comments at FACEBOOK.COM/ RBDAILYNEWS Twitter: Follow and send tweets to @REDBLUFFNEWS Will Durst OPINION » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, July 5, 2014 MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS A4