The Biden-Harris foreign policy has been a disaster. American national security is at risk.
And when a top national security was asked this question, the entire room went silent.
White House Dodges Questions on Reversal of Plea Deals for 9/11 Terrorists
On Sunday, White House National Security Council communications adviser John Kirby deflected questions regarding the sudden reversal of plea deals for three 9/11 terrorists. During an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Kirby faced pointed inquiries from Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich about President Biden’s involvement in the decision.
“Is the president willing to let these terrorists escape the harshest penalty in the system of justice and let that be part of his legacy?” Heinrich asked. Kirby responded by attributing the decision to an independent authority within the military chain of command.
“Again, this was a decision made by a convening authority in the military chain of command, an independent convening authority,” Kirby stated.
Heinrich pressed further, questioning if the President had any role in the decision. Kirby reiterated that the Secretary of Defense had delegated the authority, emphasizing that the decision was independent.
The Department of Defense had previously announced pretrial agreements with Khalid Shaikh Mohammad, Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin ‘Attash, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi. These agreements removed the death penalty as a potential sentence for the three 9/11 plotters. The announcement sparked significant outrage, with many questioning the President’s involvement.
In response to the backlash, the White House clarified that President Biden had no role in the deal. “The President and the White House played no role in this process,” stated a White House National Security Council spokesperson. It was also noted that Biden had rejected a similar proposal the previous year.
Following the uproar, the Defense Department rescinded the agreements. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin took control of the case, revoking the pretrial deals. “Effective immediately, in the exercise of my authority, I hereby withdraw from the three pretrial agreements that you signed on July 31, 2024,” Austin wrote in his letter.
Kirby maintained that Austin’s decision was independent, with no influence from the President. “This was a decision made by the secretary of defense. It was an independent decision by him, certainly within his authorities,” Kirby affirmed.
Efforts for Israel Cease-Fire Continue Amid Conflict
Kirby also addressed ongoing U.S. efforts to broker a cease-fire in Israel amid the escalating conflict since Hamas’ attack on October 7. “We still believe a cease-fire deal is the best way to bring this war to an end,” Kirby said, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Despite concerns that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be resistant to a cease-fire, Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer emphasized the candid and longstanding relationship between Biden and Netanyahu. “One of the extraordinary assets in the US-Israel relationship is this personal relationship between these two leaders,” Finer stated on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Finer reiterated the U.S. position on the necessity of a cease-fire and hostage deal, stressing the urgency due to the volatile nature of the region. “The United States has been extremely clear, both publicly and privately, about how urgent we think it is that the cease-fire and hostage deal be established,” Finer said, emphasizing the need for swift action to prevent further complications.
All the indications up to this point, though, suggest that there’s been no progress being made for peace in the region and a cooling of tensions to prevent future wars.
Be sure to stay tuned to the Conservative Column for more updates on major foreign policy news.
