How do you feel about "rehabilitation" for terror suspects?

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 17:36:52 -0400

I heard this story on NPR this afternoon. Authorities in Minneapolis are actually considering releasing five terror suspects who wanted to join ISIL (but were caught) ... Release them to a halfway house "rehabilitation" program. They've already done this with one would-be terrorist.

The NPR journalist said that we can't "incarcerate our way out of this problem." I say that if you are caught attempting to join ISIS, you deserve to go to prison for a good long time.

What do you think?

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/05/12/terror-suspects

Judge keeps terror suspects in jail but says he's open to ideas

A Minneapolis judge offered a flicker of hope Tuesday to the families of five young men accused of trying to join the ISIS terror group.

Response by SFC Joseph James made May 13 at 2015 5:40 PM

SFC Joseph James — Wed, 13 May 2015 17:40:56 -0400

As long as they didn't cause anyone to die...sure. Ok try it. If it doesn't work you could put them in GITMO! lol

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 13 at 2015 5:47 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 13 May 2015 17:47:44 -0400

The article details the judge using actual common sense.

They aren't convicted of anything. They aren't actual criminals yet. They are accused, yes, but in the eyes of the law, they are innocent until proven guilty.

With the charges against them, which don't actually appear to be "actions" or even "attempted actions" (just a desire to join), this seems reasonable.

The "rehabilitation" in this case, is not turning "stupid kids" into actual terrorists.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 13 at 2015 5:47 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 13 May 2015 17:47:10 -0400

Lock them up. They might return to the US as terrorists.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made May 13 at 2015 5:56 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Wed, 13 May 2015 17:56:25 -0400

As long as they have a means to communicate, ie same cell pod, computers, their own code, there is opportunity to refine planning. Yes, innocent until proven guilty but the preponderance of previous cases would indicate quite plainly, if they were following ISIS when they were free, they have a religion while they are incarcerated and will continue to follow ISIS.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made May 13 at 2015 6:01 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Wed, 13 May 2015 18:01:10 -0400

Other than attempting to leave the country to join ISIS, they haven't really committed any crime. The best approach would be to work with them and try to create some community advocates than lock them up and throw away the key.

That said, watch them like a hawk until you're satisfied these kids have moved beyond the youthful need for meaning that surpasses all rationality.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 6:02 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 18:02:51 -0400

Keep their asses locked up until they come to trial; That is the way it is depending on the severity of some crimes. They will get their day in court. Our legal system needs to get back to doing what is right in protecting the people they serve and stop worrying about family members and other naysay do gooders who think that all problems are solved with letting them off easy. If you don't want to do the time, don't do the crime. Plotting to join or assist a terrorist organization that has opening claimed to kill Americans and whose goal is to over take and destroy America due to our beliefs.

I (for one) can not believe that some of his family members didn't know what they were planning, which also makes them complicit. But I won't go into that as none of the family members have been arrested.

Those guys were all big, bad, rough and tough wanna be terrorists ..........until they got caught and now everyone is supposed to feel sorry for them! I say Hell NO! If a jury says "not guilty", fine they are free to go. Till then.....they need to sit it out behind bars.

Response by SGT Justin Lamb made May 13 at 2015 6:11 PM

SGT Justin Lamb — Wed, 13 May 2015 18:11:23 -0400

CW5,

I believe this can work for a case by case basis. For example, awhile back I saw.. I think it was Steve Wilco's show about a white guy wanting to not be a racist anymore. He contacted the show and they had him on to tell his story. He explained that his father installed hate on him but as he got older when he started to think for himself and wonder what was so wrong with non-whites.

He was either a really great actor or this dude really put his heart out there. By the middle of the show he was saying sorry to random people of all different races in the crowd and even hugging them and asking for forgiveness.

I don't know how hardcore these guys are that this piece speaks of but maybe there is a chance for them since they were captured before becoming hardened... Special targets of our lovely military...

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 13 at 2015 9:06 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 13 May 2015 21:06:49 -0400

North Korea has some anti-aircraft guns that need cleaning, hmm... Can you say employment opportunity...

Response by MSgt George Lynch made May 13 at 2015 9:13 PM

MSgt George Lynch — Wed, 13 May 2015 21:13:06 -0400

About the same way I feel about rehabilitating pedophiles...there are course of action and rehabilitation is not one of them in my book.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 13 at 2015 11:35 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Wed, 13 May 2015 23:35:30 -0400

They can not be rehabilitated and if you disagree show me who has. If it was up to me I would send them to GITMO. If we had gladiatorial fights, I'd sentence them to the arena to face off against lions, tigers, and our most dangerous gladiators. I have no heart for terrorist, foreign or domestic. I just want them dead sooner or later.

Response by SGT Jimmy Carpenter made May 14 at 2015 7:41 AM

SGT Jimmy Carpenter — Thu, 14 May 2015 07:41:59 -0400

Rehabilitate them with this. They are traitors and deserve to be treated as such.