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A
Welcome. It is Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you. And Senator, there are going to be many people that are going to listen to the show and they're going to be enraged if they haven't already seen the news that the mastermind behind 911 is going to have his life spared in a deal that he made with the United States government.
B
Well, this week has been a very, very good week. If you happen to be a terrorist, if you happen to be someone who wants to murder Americans, this has been a phenomenal week. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris just gave a gift to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. They agreed to take the death penalty off the table and spare his life. It's an absolute outrage. It's an insult to the families of all of those who were murdered on 9 11. And, and sadly is something we predicted a year ago, that this is what Biden and Harris were going to do. They did exactly that. Also, this very same week, two illegal aliens from Jordan who tried to breach the Quantico base were allowed to walk free. They were allowed to post bail, and they just walked free. Again, a very good week if you happen to be a terrorist, not a good week if you want to keep Americans safe. We're going to talk about all that.
A
Yeah, it's a lot. It's an important episode. I also want to just say thank you to so many listeners. You guys have rallied for the people in Israel. And just a couple nights ago, I was having dinner with the incredible team from ifcj. Now, if you don't know the work that they're doing, the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, that's why I want you to take a moment and to see what they're doing and get involved. Since the war has broken out and the constant attacks have been happening against the Israeli people, IFCJ has been on the ground and because of your donations, they've been able to help people in need and save lives, whether it is giving literal bulletproof vests, putting in bomb shelters, helping with the needs of those that have already been attacked, and also providing armed ambulances that have been able to evacuate people, including on the day of October 7, because they were bulletproof and they were able to save lives. When I sit down with several of the people that come over from Israel for the first time since the attack on October 7th to hear the stories, it breaks your heart. But it also makes you so thankful that there are listeners out there like you guys, that are supporting and standing with the people in Israel that need so many things, basic things, whether it is food and water after bombing happens in their city and their town, in their neighborhood, or it is the bomb shelters that they're putting in and placing or the armor that is given to the first responders. The work that you are doing is unbelievable. So thank you. Now, if you've not gotten involved with ifcj, here is your opportunity to stand with the people of Israel and make a real difference. Whether it's armored security trucks, whether it is stopping bullets from terrorists who are firing at the people that are trying to save the lives of those have already been wounded. This is the work they're doing. I want you to hear more about the stories and what is happening. Just go to supportifcj.org that is supportifcj.org you'll hear these stories. You'll be able to show your support for Israel as well. They need our help right now. And you can get involved. Support IFCJ.org Senator, let, let's just talk about a year ago, almost to the day you and I did this show. Warning after letters went to family members of the victims of 911 that there was a possibility of a plea deal with Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, the mastermind of 9 11, that he his life would be spared if he just said, okay, fine, I'll plead guilty. The the charges now to be clear about who Khalid Sheikh Muhammad is, he's not just the mastermind of 9 11. This is a guy that has confessed to at least 31 horrific and barbaric attacks, including the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. On top of that, he was the guy that was there for with the beheading of the Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. He was the Mastermind behind the 2002 Bali bombings. And he was a man that was in charge with a plan to blow up the Panama Canal. He had active plans to assassinate Jimmy Carter and a plot to blow up suspension bridges in New York City. Now, these are just some of the things that he was working on. He clearly knew how to kill people. He killed women, children. He killed police officers, firemen, first responders. And he was also accountable for killing American troops overseas after 9 11. And this administration just spared his life. Why would they make this deal except for the fact they say we just want to close down Gitmo?
B
Well, sadly, that's exactly it. It's all politics, all the time. And a year ago last August, we devoted an entire podcast to focusing on the very real risk that this was going to happen. That Biden Harris, White House this is what they wanted to have happen. And they announced just this week that Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, they've cut a plea deal with him and two other co conspirators, Walid Muhammad, Salih Mubarak Bin Attash. Boy, that's a mouthful. And Mustafa Ahmed Adam Al Hausawi, both of whom, along with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, have been in Guantanamo Bay since 2003. And understand Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, and by that I mean really the left wing radicals that surrounds them, because I don't know that Joe Biden wants anything other than just to have his jello at 4pm but the radicals that run this White House and that are now trying to have a coronation for Kamala Harris, they came in with the objective. They hate Gitmo. They want to shut it down. They hate that it exists. And in order to shut it down, this was the deal they wanted to cut. And understand, look, 9 11, a lot of our listeners are young enough that you weren't alive on September 11th. What happened on September 11th, 2001, 2,976 people were murdered. It remains the most horrific terrorist attack in the history of, of our country. And Khalid Sheikh Mohammed planned it and directed those executing it. And for this administration to say the death penalty is no longer a possibility, we're going to, we're going to agree that, that you can go, you can leave Gitmo, you can go to an American prison, and you will not face capital punishment. Well, let me quote, uh, retired police officer Jim Smith. He is the husband of Moira Smith, who was the only female NYPD officer who died in September 11th. He said when he heard this news, he felt like he'd been kicked in the balls. And here's his quote. The prosecution and families have waited 23 years to have our day in court to put on the record what these animals did to our loved ones. They took that opportunity away from us. They committed the worst crime in the history of our country. They should receive the highest penalty. Or here, here's another quote. This is from retired cop Kathy Vigiano, who's the wife of NYPD detective Joseph Vigiano, who was also killed on September 11th. Here's, here's what she said. Quote, I'm angry and disappointed that enemy combatants who killed thousands of Americans in our homeland are now able to exploit the US Judicial system to their benefit, receiving support from American taxpayers for shelter, food and health care for the rest of their lives.
A
You know, you get your head around this, and it's all about a feather in the cap and that's how they look at it. The White House, they were obsessed with getting us out of Afghanistan on the anniversary of 9 11. It cost Americans lives at the airport and countless people, operators that risked their lives to save American lives. Translators and others who were beheaded and tortured and killed after we left so abruptly. And there were kill lists that were clearly put out for them. They wanted to close quickly, not because it was the. The safest way to do it, to draw down in Afghanistan, but because it was a political moment that they wanted to say, on the anniversary of 9 11, I ended America's longest war. That was the goal for Joe Biden, and that's what he did. And they've been obsessed with closing Guantanamo Bay. And phase one of getting this deal done was the obsession with the left that, oh, we waterboarded Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Yeah, the guy knew a lot about a lot of plans and a lot of terrorist attacks. And he knew where we assumed Osama bin Laden and other terrorists were. And they said, well, you should feel sorry for him. That should never happen. He should get a plea deal. And then they just said, we're just going to run out the clock here. And then we gave him lawyers and we paid incredible amounts of money for his legal defense team with our tax dollars. And then we gave him incredible medical care and all sorts of other benefits. And now we're going to, as you mentioned, keep him alive the rest of his life. But I go back to the victims here, and this is what pisses me off. There are tens of thousands of family members that get a damn letter in the mail.
B
Yep, form letter.
A
A form letter that just says, hey, the guy that killed your family, I'm sorry, your dad or your mom or your grandmother had to. Or your son or your daughter had to choose between burning to death in the Twins Towers or jumping out the. Out the window. The guy who planned that is going to live now because we want to just move this off the books and we want to close down Gitmo for another moment like we had in Afghanistan. That, by the way, turned out to be a disaster. And they get a damn form letter.
B
Well, listen, you're right. That this White House, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, what characterizes every decision they make is they put politics first. They put their radical partisan agenda above the interest of Americans. Why do we have open borders? We have open borders because they want to stay in power. Because they wanted to let eleven and a half million illegal aliens in. Because they think they'll vote for Democrats either now some Illegally now and the others in the future when they grant the amnesty and give them voting rights. So if in the meantime people have to die, that's a perfectly acceptable risk from their perspective. Why did we pull out of Afghanistan so incompetently in a way that resulted in 13 servicemen and women being murdered? Because as you just said, they wanted to announce we were out of Afghanistan on the anniversary of 9 11. It's all about the political announcement. And here. This was about appeasing the leftists who hate the fact that Guantanamo exists at all. Look, the Police Benevolent Association President Patrick Hendry says he was inundated with calls from officers families after he learned of the plea deal. And he said it was, quote, heartbreaking and infuriating. And here's what he said. Quote, their loved ones sacrifice is being disrespected and they are being victimized all over again. These individuals masterminded an attack on our nation that not only claimed 2,977 lives that day, but thousands more in the years since. Their crime merits the ultimate punishment. There should be no plea and absolutely no leniency. And I'll tell you what, the firefighters feel the same way. The Uniform Firefighters Association President Andrew Ansbro said that fdn wise, thousands of firefighters feel, quote, betrayed and disgusted. And here's what he said. Quote, 343 New York City firefighters died on that day and hundreds have died since then. We're still losing three firefighters a month to the effects of 9 11. Ground zero. We feel betrayed and disgusted that they will not face the ultimate justice of the death penalty. That these terrorists were offered a plea deal which will allow them to live into old age with contact with their families.
A
I, I pause because I'm angry. And if you know anybody that's lost a loved one, whether it's on 9 11, and you and I have friends that lost loved ones on 9 11. But we also.
B
Well, and Heidi and I lost, lost a very good friends. We were very good friends with Barbara Olson. She was married to Ted Olson, who was the Solicitor General of the United States under George W. Bush. We had been with Barbara not many weeks before 9 11. And she was on the plane that crashed into the Pentagon. She lost her life on that day.
A
I had dinner tonight with, I mean, as you know, I'm in Pinehurst, which is right next to Fort Bragg or they renamed it being PC Fort Freedom or whatever they call it now, with a couple of different guys that signed up after 9 11. They're still in. And we were having dinner and this subject came up and it was sad to see their demeanor change because they are enraged because their friends died. Yes, they lost their friends fighting these terrorists. Their friends were killed by people that were being trained and recruited by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. One of the things that was brought up tonight at dinner that made them so mad was they said, what people forget is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was not just the master 9 11, he was the master of the propaganda to recruit radicals into Al Qaeda. And those radicals were the ones on the battlefield that were killing American soldiers. So it's not just the people that died on 9 11. There were countless others that signed up to fight the terrorists after 911 that were fighting against people that had been recruited through propaganda and training by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who were then killed. By the way, he was never charged directly for their murders. Right. And he said, so to be clear now, you sent men and women in uniform, American men and women, uniform, to go kill these people. You die. And the guy who mastermind the whole damn thing that started it all is now going to live the rest of his life until he naturally expires. And you think Americans are gonna wanna sign up to fight for America? This is what they know happens after the worst terrorist attack on American soil in American history.
B
Well, and listen, the media wants America to forget about 9 11, forget about the crazed theocratic lunatics who sought to murder us, who want to destroy us. And I will say for those of us who are old enough to have been alive, every one of us remembers exactly where you were that morning. Where were you in the morning of 9 11?
A
I was in my college dorm room at Ole Miss. And my phone, my cell phone rang. And it was a producer at Fox News because I was doing TV then. And he just said, turn on your tv and hung up.
B
It was the horror all across this country. Everyone, life just stopped for me. I was in D.C. it was the beginning of the Bush administration. I was working in the Bush administration. I was the head of policy at the Federal Trade Commission at the time. And that morning I was walking out of our apartment, literally at the front door, and my phone rang and it was Heidi. And she had left earlier that morning. Heidi was working at the White House. And Heidi called me and said, turn on the television right now. So I stopped. I went back to my apartment, turned it on and watched. And we saw the Twin Towers, the World Trade Centers, and we saw smoke coming out of the top of one of the two towers. And early on we didn't know what it was. We didn't know if it was initially just the early speculation was it was some horrible accident. Some pilot of a small plane had screwed up and crashed into a building. It was not immediately apparent what had happened. And as everyone's watching one of the towers with smoke coming out of it, the whole world watched in horror as we saw a commercial jet, a second commercial jet, steer around and crash into the second tower. And the instant that happened, everyone knew exactly what this was. This was not a tragic accident. This was a deliberate act of murder, a horrible act of terrorism. And there was a level of confusion. There was a level of just horror and disbelief. So Heidi at the time, as I said, was working at the White House. Initially. When the first plane hit, the Secret Service told the folks at the White House, just stay where you are, keep working, and everyone's watching it, but everyone's staying there. When the second plane hit, they ran through the hallways and they literally told people, get out now. Run. Do not walk, run. And so Heidi sprinted out. Her car was parked in an underground parking garage, so she couldn't get her car. They wouldn't let her get her car. And so Heidi proceeded to take off her high heels and walk home barefoot. We had an apartment in Arlington, Virginia, actually, just south of the Pentagon. And shortly thereafter. So there was a lot of confusion about what was happening. I'm watching tv, I'm trying to get in touch with Heidi, but cell phones were not working very well. There was a period where it was being reported, I think on ABC that a plane had hit the White House, which obviously I'm having trouble getting Heidi, and so I'm very freaked out that she's in harm's way. She ended up walking across Memorial Bridge and walking home to our apartment, just, just carrying her high heels. And the plane that had been reported that had hit the White House is actually the one that struck the Pentagon. And as I mentioned, Barbara Olson, our friend, was on it. And Barbara actually picked up her cell phone on the plane and was able to contact her husband Ted. She got Ted on the phone, and Ted was, at the time, he was the number three official at the Bush Department of Justice. And he knew exactly what was happening. He knew his wife was on that phone. And Barbara was a firebrand. She was passionate, she was a fighter, she was conservative, she was awesome. And Barbara said to Ted, what do I do? How do we stop them? And that was the last conversation they had because moments later, the plane crashed in the Pentagon.
A
You think about that and then you think about the COVID up of this decision. And I think we should talk about that because it's important.
B
Yes.
A
The White House is acting now like they had nothing to do with this. White House Press Secretary today, Jean Pierre was asked about this moment. And I want you to hear just how they're playing this again. Politics. It's a lie. And I want us to explain that lie. But first, here is what she said when she was asked about it. Thank you, Crane.
B
I'm just hoping for a response to the 911 plea deal that spared the architects the death penalty. The New York City Firefighters union put out a statement, said, we are disgusted and disappointed that these three terrorists were given a plea deal and allowed to escape the ultimate justice while each month three more heroes from the FDNY are dying from World Trade center illnesses. Does the administration have a message for them?
C
Look, our hearts are. I mean, not much more than I can add to what you heard from the National Security Advisor and how. I just answered the question to one of your colleagues. And I'll just reiterate. Obviously, our hearts go out to the families who lost a loved one. We didn't have a role in this. This was not something that we were involved in. And so we are determined to make sure that they get justice. These families get justice. I just don't have anything else to add to what the National Security Advisor just state just dated from here moments ago.
A
Senator. I mean, I. I think you need to explain how big of a lie this is.
B
Yeah. What. But actually, actually. Play. Play the next clip, which, which is the National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan. So she's referencing what he said. Play that as well. Switching gears for a moment, I want to ask you about the deal that was reached with 911 suspects by military. Military courts down at Guantanamo. Republicans are cond as showing weakness and calling it a sweetheart deal because it avoids a trial and the death penalty. I was wondering if the administration has.
A
Any response to that.
D
As we said last night, the White House received word that the convening authority had entered these pretrial agreements that had been negotiated by military prosecutors with KSM and some of the other 911 defendants. And we had no role in that process. The President had no role. The Vice President had no role. I had no role. The White House had no role. And we were informed yesterday, the same day that they went out publicly that this pretrial agreement had been accepted by the convening authority. What the President did upon learning of that was direct his team to consult as appropriate, with officials and lawyers at the Department of Defense on this matter. Those consultations are ongoing and I have nothing more to add at this time.
B
Well, of course he has nothing more to add. Yeah, of course he has nothing more to add. And by the way, Kreme jump here, our hearts go out to them. No they don't. You didn't give a damn. Because what Jake Sullivan doesn't admit there is why this plague deal was reached and it was reached because Joe Biden and Kamala Harris insisted on closing Guantanamo Bay. Play what Crane Jean Pierre says where she, she acknowledges that and a follow up on the 911 plea deal with.
A
The night does the president still plan.
C
To close Guantanamo Bay prison before he.
B
Leaves office and is there a realistic pathway to do that in the next six months?
C
Ms. That's still something that the president wants to do and get done. As far as a timeline, don't have anything for you here, but obviously this is something that he wanted to be done under his administration. I just don't have anything else to read out or preview at this time. But it is of something that he's determined to get done.
A
Well, there it is. Senator, they're just admitted it. Yes, we had to get this done.
B
Now we had nothing to do with it other than we said we're closing the prison he's in. So you got to do it.
A
Yeah, because Ann has plans to do it by January 20th. Right. So we're on a time frame here. We gotta go.
B
There's a political priority here. And so you know, when she said, oh, you know, our hearts go out to, to the victims families. Well no, they don't. He's determined to get this done because this is a political priority and the people who are at risk, apparently they're not the priority.
A
I gotta ask you a legal question because there's a lot of people that are gonna ask this in their heads and I'm gonna ask you, Donald Trump wins reelection, hypothetically, he comes in, could he stop the closing of Guantanamo Bay? Number one. But before you even answer that, the second question is, is it possible at his direction and his administration's direction to undo this plea deal with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or once it's done, is this done and it cannot be undone.
B
So the two questions on the first one, if Guantanamo was not yet closed, yes, it would be possible to stop the closing of Guantanamo and understand we have a military base there that's not closing, but at Guantanamo we have built detention facilities where we have terrorists from 911 and we held them there in part because although it's under control of the US Government, it's not in US Territory in the mainland, and that was part of the reason they were held there. If the Guantanamo detention facility had not already been closed, then, yes, Trump could reverse that. But your second question, the answer, unfortunately, is no. If the plea deal is entered into and it's agreed to and a court, they plead guilty and a court takes that guilty plea, the fact that a new president comes in and changes his mind, absent extraordinary circumstances, there's no way to undo that.
A
Would there be a possibility of charging him with new or different crimes he maybe hasn't been charged with in the past? Or would those statute of limitations be gone? Because there's going to be people, they're going to say, we want there to be justice.
B
Yeah, look, it would depend. It depends on what is what's covered in this plea deal and what crimes he's pleading to. So if you had totally brand new crimes that are not covered in the plea deal, you could potentially charge him for that, but that would take the evidence to convict him of those brand new crimes. And I don't know if we have that evidence or not.
A
If you think that Joe Biden cared about the victims of 9 11, I think we've answered that question. The answer is obviously no. But does he care about your safety and your security from other potential terrorist attacks? Well, with the southern border wide open, I think we can answer that question pretty easily. But then we get this new shocking report that the illegal Jordanian migrants who tried to breach Quantico base were allowed to walk free after posting bail. This is a national security risk at a high level. And they're like, oh, you're an illegal. Oh, you came in. Oh, you're from a part of the world where there's a lot of terrorists. Yeah, we're gonna let you walk free. How the hell does this happen?
B
Well, and this is something we covered on the podcast, when it happened that, that, that two Jordanian illegal immigrants were. Were arrested on May 3rd for trespassing onto the military installation, onto the Quantico Marine Corps Base. And they were handed over to ICE officers because they were illegal aliens. One of them was Hassan yusuf Hamdan, who's 32. And the other was Mohammed Kair Dabus, who's 28. And they were just released on Bailey. Hamdan's bail was set at $15,000. Dabusa's bail was set at $10,000. And they were released and let go. And we'll see if we ever see them again. But understand Quantico, so it's home to the FBI academy. It's home to the FBI laboratory. It's home to a Defense Intelligence Agency facility, and it's home to several Marine Corps commands, including the unit that flies the Marine One presidential helicopter. So we don't know why they were trying to get onto the Quantico base, but there are a lot of things there that, that are serious national security priorities or law enforcement priorities. And to have illegal immigrants from the Middle east trying to get on there. As one federal law enforcement source told the New York Post, quote, big time intel failure, security failure. If it wasn't an act of terrorism, why aren't the government officials releasing the details of this? What was the intent? And of course, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are not answering that question. They don't believe, apparently, that they owe the American people an answer to that question.
A
And let's remind the American people of something we played here. These types of breaches are happening on a shocking regular basis. And this was the warning that happened on Fox News from a man wearing a uniform saying back in May, yeah, this is happening a lot more than anyone realizes.
E
Military bases getting penetrated by foreign nationals is happening more and more. This is something we see probably two or three times a week where we're stopping these folks at the gate with a week, a week at least. And this is just Navy alone where we're seeing folks try to come in. And usually the COVID story is, and I'm a student, you know, I'm here, I'm an enthusiast. I want to see the ships, that type of thing. We have to turn them around. And typically we get NCIS involved with those and we get biometrics when possible. But yes, there's been an uptick in that.
A
Do they have passports? Do they have.
E
A lot of times they have passports, they have papers, yes. But they're in no way, shape or form authorized to be on our base. And it's really hard for us to tell the underlying motive for these type of cases.
D
Wow, that's stunning.
E
It is.
A
It's got to be a concern.
E
This is Russian, Chinese. This comes from all, all these different nations. We're seeing an uptick in it.
A
In addition to that, there's been some reporting on this over the last six months. You're getting two or three drones flying.
D
Over military bases in America per week.
E
That is, no question happening.
A
How do you overcome that?
E
Well, you know, we are improving our capabilities to detect the that, to defend against that, to make sure that our folks are trained to actually counter that. I do this under My authorities from a US Northern Command as the component commander for that. And so I have great reporting on it. And generally in general, we believe it's mostly just folks with drones that you buy them commercially, you know, from Amazon or whatever the case may be. But it's hard to differentiate between that and a nation state trying to, I.
A
Mean they're acting like this is just normal in the United States of America now. Like, oh yeah, we got people coming into bases, we got these terrorists coming across the southern border on a regular basis on the terrorist watch list.
B
Yeah, and notice what he said. He says many of these are Chinese and Russians. Look, these are organized incursions. Organized incursions targeting our military bases. And in the case of these two Jordanians, what happened? So they lied to the guards at Quantico. They claim that they worked for an Amazon subcon contractor and they were there to make a delivery. And the officers determined that they were full of crap. That that was not true. And the men who were in a box truck ignored the instruction of the guards and tried to drive directly onto the base before they were stopped by anti vehicle barriers. And so look, this is deeply concerning behavior and the fact that and both of them were here illegally. Hamdan entered the US illegally at San Diego. He came across the southern border in April. But you know what happened? They released him, quote, due to lack of detention space. Debuce was also in the US illegally because he overstayed his student visa. And so both of them, for whatever reason, for whatever motive, they decided they were going to try to breach Quantico. Um, that they were issued citations for trespassing and told to appear in federal court in Alexandria. And a magistrate judge signed off on their release on the condition that they continue to appear at future court dates and they must also refrain from trespassing on any government property, including the Quantico facility. Like this is truly absurd. And, and, and as I said at the outset, this week is a very good week if you're a terrorist. This week is a very good week if you want to threaten the national security of this country. It's a terrible week if you actually care about keeping Americans safe.
A
Yeah. This is why this upcoming election is gonna be so important in this country. Don't forget we do the show Monday, Wednesday and Friday. On those in between days, grab my podcast, the Ben Ferguson podcast. I'll keep you updated on the latest breaking news. We'll keep covering these issues. And as the Senator said at the beginning, this is why we do the show. We warned you about the real prospect of this plea deal a year ago, and no one else was talking about it then. We had it here for you. So make sure you hit that subscribe or auto download button, and the senator and I will see you back here in a couple of days.
The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson: Detailed Summary of Episode on 9/11 Mastermind and National Security Concerns
Episode Overview In this gripping episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson, hosted by Ben Ferguson and featuring Senator Ted Cruz, the discussion centers around two significant and contentious issues: the recent plea deal sparing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (KSM), the mastermind behind the September 11 attacks, and the release on bail of two Jordanian illegal immigrants who attempted to breach the Quantico Marine Corps Base. The episode delves deep into the implications of these events, the political motivations behind them, and the broader national security concerns they raise.
1. Plea Deal Sparing Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
Discussion Highlights: Senator Ted Cruz kicks off the conversation by expressing outrage over the United States government's decision to spare KSM's life through a plea deal orchestrated by the Biden-Harris administration. Cruz emphasizes the emotional and national trauma associated with 9/11, highlighting the perceived betrayal by the current administration.
Notable Quotes:
Senator Ted Cruz [00:23]: "Joe Biden, Kamala Harris just gave a gift to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. They agreed to take the death penalty off the table and spare his life. It's an absolute outrage."
Jim Smith, Retired Police Officer [08:16]: "They should receive the highest penalty."
Kathy Vigiano, Retired Cop [08:33]: "I'm angry and disappointed that enemy combatants who killed thousands of Americans... are now able to exploit the US Judicial system to their benefit."
Key Points:
Background on KSM: Cruz outlines KSM's extensive involvement in terrorist activities beyond 9/11, including the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the beheading of journalist Daniel Pearl, and multiple assassination plots.
Political Motives: The administration's primary motive, according to Cruz, is to close Guantanamo Bay detention camp, viewing it as a political priority over national security.
Family and Law Enforcement Reactions: Families of 9/11 victims and law enforcement officials express deep anger and frustration over the plea deal, feeling that justice has been denied.
Senator Cruz [10:08]: "A form letter that just says, hey, the guy that killed your family... should not have been spared."
2. Release of Jordanian Illegal Immigrants from Quantico
Discussion Highlights: The episode shifts focus to the alarming release of two Jordanian nationals who attempted to breach the highly secure Quantico Marine Corps Base. Cruz labels the week as "a very good week if you're a terrorist," underscoring the national security risks posed by such actions.
Notable Quotes:
Senator Ted Cruz [27:26]: "This is deeply concerning behavior... this week is a very good week if you're a terrorist."
Federal Law Enforcement Source [30:17]: "Military bases getting penetrated by foreign nationals is happening more and more."
Key Points:
Incident Details: On May 3rd, Hassan Yusuf Hamdan and Mohammed Kair Dabus, both illegal immigrants from Jordan, attempted to enter Quantico. Despite the base housing critical facilities like the FBI Academy and Defense Intelligence Agency, they were released on bail shortly after being apprehended.
Security Failures: The breach is characterized as a significant intelligence and security lapse, with questions raised about the government's handling and transparency of the incident.
Government Response: There is frustration over the lack of detailed explanations from government officials regarding the motives behind the breach and the reasons for the subsequent release on bail.
Expert Insights: A federal law enforcement expert elaborates on the increasing trend of unauthorized attempts to access military bases, highlighting challenges in differentiating benign intentions from potential threats.
3. Support for Israel and Call to Action
Discussion Highlights: Ben Ferguson takes a moment to commend listeners for their support of Israel through donations to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). He emphasizes the critical aid provided by IFCJ, including bulletproof vests, bomb shelters, and armed ambulances, which have been instrumental in saving lives amid ongoing conflicts.
Key Points:
IFCJ Contributions: The organization is actively involved in providing essential support to Israeli communities affected by constant attacks, ensuring safety and resilience.
Listener Engagement: Ferguson urges listeners to continue their support, directing them to supportifcj.org to make donations and stay informed about IFCJ's efforts.
Ben Ferguson [01:15]: "The work that you are doing is unbelievable. So thank you. Now, if you've not gotten involved with IFCJ, here is your opportunity to stand with the people of Israel and make a real difference."
4. White House and Administration's Response to the Plea Deal
Discussion Highlights: Senator Cruz and Ben Ferguson critically analyze the White House's response to the plea deal, deeming it insufficient and politically motivated. They argue that the administration's actions prioritize political achievements over justice and national security.
Notable Quotes:
White House Press Secretary Jean Pierre [20:37]: "We didn't have a role in this. This was not something that we were involved in."
Senator Ted Cruz [21:33]: "I think you need to explain how big of a lie this is."
Key Points:
Administration's Stance: The White House maintains that they had no direct involvement in the plea deal, attributing it to military prosecutors' negotiations. However, Cruz contends that the political agenda to close Guantanamo Bay influenced the decision.
Continued Efforts to Close Guantanamo: Despite the plea deal, the administration remains committed to shutting down the detention facility, a move viewed by critics as undermining national security.
Senator Cruz [23:57]: "They just admitted it. Yes, we had to get this done."
5. Future Political Implications and Legal Considerations
Discussion Highlights: The conversation shifts towards the potential impact of future political shifts, particularly the possibility of Donald Trump winning reelection. Cruz addresses whether a new administration could reverse the plea deal or halt the closure of Guantanamo Bay.
Notable Quotes:
Key Points:
Reversibility of the Plea Deal: Cruz explains that once a plea deal is entered and accepted by the court, it is challenging, if not impossible, to undo unless new evidence emerges.
Guantanamo Bay Closure: If Guantanamo had not been slated for closure, a new administration could potentially halt its shutdown. However, with plans already in motion, reversing the closure poses significant logistical and political challenges.
Legal Insights: Cruz clarifies that while reversing the plea deal is unlikely, new charges could theoretically be brought if unaddressed crimes surface, though this would require substantial evidence.
6. National Security Concerns: Quantico Breach and Drone Surveillance
Discussion Highlights: The episode highlights broader national security issues, including unauthorized access attempts to military installations and the rise in drone incursions over American bases.
Notable Quotes:
Federal Law Enforcement Source [30:17]: "Military bases getting penetrated by foreign nationals is happening more and more."
Senator Ted Cruz [31:19]: "This is Russian, Chinese. This comes from all these different nations."
Key Points:
Drone Surveillance: An uptick in drones flying over military bases presents new challenges for national defense, with efforts underway to enhance detection and countermeasures.
Quantico Breach Details: The two Jordanian nationals' attempt to access Quantico was marked by deceit and disregard for security protocols, raising alarms about potential terrorist activities.
Government Preparedness: Despite increased threats, the administration's handling of these security breaches is criticized as inadequate and reactive rather than proactive.
Expert Perspectives: A military official discusses advancements in counter-drone technologies and training aimed at mitigating these emerging threats, though acknowledging the complexity of distinguishing between benign and hostile intentions.
Conclusion This episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson provides a comprehensive and critical examination of recent developments concerning national security and the Biden-Harris administration's policies. By featuring firsthand accounts, expert opinions, and emotional testimonies from those affected by 9/11, the episode underscores the gravity of the plea deal with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the concerning release of individuals posing potential threats. Additionally, the discussion extends to broader security challenges, emphasizing the need for vigilant and decisive action to protect American lives and uphold justice.
Listeners are encouraged to engage with ongoing national security issues and consider the implications of political decisions on the safety and well-being of the nation.
Stay Informed For those interested in more in-depth analysis and updates on these topics, subscribing to The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson on the iHeartRadio app or your preferred podcast platform is highly recommended.