Terrorists' bonanza
The decision by Obama administration officials to bring a terrorist who admits to plotting the Sept. 11 attacks and four others to New York City for criminal trials amounts to a public relations bonanza for terrorists and a disaster for U.S. security interests.
A trial will allow unprecedented - to borrow a favorite administration term - terrorist grandstanding on the world's greatest media stage, an opportunity for Islamic extremists to vent their hatred for America, freedom and democracy.
At the same time, the trials will present terrorists with a venue and a reason to launch further attacks, just a few blocks from where the Twin Towers came down eight years ago. Attacks don't have to be on the scale of slamming passenger-filled airliners into skyscrapers. They will draw just as much attention if similar to, for instance, the shootings by another Islamic extremist at Fort Hood just a few weeks ago.
The trials also will give U.S. enemies valuable insights into vital national security information through the civil discovery process where prosecutors must turn over information to defense lawyers.
Why is Attorney General Eric Holder even holding trials when Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, supposedly the Sept. 11 mastermind, has repeatedly announced he wished to plead guilty to charges brought against him in military tribunals? What's to be gained by now bringing criminal charges?
It should also be noted that Mr. Holder is a senior partner in Covington & Burling, a Washington, D.C. law firm representing 17 Guantanamo detainees. Any possible conflict of interest here?
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Delay pot ordinance
In recent months cities and towns around Colorado have been grappling with ordinances regulating medical marijuana dispensaries.
The sudden flurry of activity stems from Attorney General Eric Holder's decision last spring prohibiting use of federal funds to prosecute growers and sellers in states which have legalized the sale of pot for medicinal purposes.
In November 2000, Colorado voters approved a ballot question making it legal to grow and sell weed to those using it for medical reasons. Since then the Colorado Department of Health has come up with guidelines for what sellers and users must do to comply with laws.
Among other things, users must register with the state and carry an ID card and get two doctors to state in writing that the user may benefit from marijuana use because of medical needs.
Some municipalities, for example Durango, have restrictions including not allowing dispensaries within 500 feet of day care centers or parks as well as schools, limits to hours of operation and age limits on who can legally sell the products.
The Salida ordinance only specifies that dispensaries must be located in commercial C-1 zones and must be a minimum of 500 feet from schools.
Others have placed moratoriums on any dispensary approvals for two to three months. The delays are in anticipation of Colorado legislators taking up new regulations on growers, sellers and users.
Before approving a medical marijuana ordinance with only a school distance limitation, Salida city officials need to do more study on the subject. City officials should place a moratorium on dispensaries for 90 days to determine issues and draft a more complete and thorough ordinance.
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Christmas opening
Tonight, Salida celebrates the start of the Christmas holiday season with the annual parade of lights and the lighting of Christmas Mountain and Holiday Park. Get the family together and get everyone downtown for an evening of old fashioned fun.
- MJB
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