Contessa Brewer: Charges have been dropped against an Al Qaeda suspect in the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole. The Decision stems from President Obama's decision to freeze military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay, but the ruling doesn't mean that Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri will go free.
Carlos Watson: Now the new administration wants to make sure that sus- that charges rather are brought against suspects at Gitmo will actually stick and al-Nashiri will remain in prison for the time being. Now new charges could be brought in the future against him. And joining us now to talk about this is Wesley Clark, a retired Four-Star General and former NATO Commander. General Clark, good to see you, Sir.
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thank you, Carlos.
Carlos Watson: General Clark, so what do you think about this decision to drop the charges against the USS Cole suspect?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I think it's a tough decision, because it's going to cause some confusion out there. And I've already seen the reaction from the sailors' families who are caught up in this in the Cole bombing in the year 2000, and they're, they're very concerned. They want justice done. But what I would say is that justice will be done. The- this dropping of these charges doesn't mean he won't be charged. It's just going to be in a different venue, in a different court and in a court where we've got all the- all the ability to show the proceedings of that court to the world and have the world condemn terrorists-
Carlos Watson: So-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -rather than condemning the United States for having Guantanamo and military commissions.
Carlos Watson: So, to be cl-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: So, I think it's the right strategic decision.
Carlos Watson: So, to be clear, he will not be walking free just because the charges have been dropped. He still is being held and will continue to be held. Correct?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, th-that's my understanding. And not only that, but I-I fully expect him to be charged. Now I'm not on the inside of it. So, I don't have any authority over it. I'm just speaking as-
Contessa Brewer: But- The-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -a retired officer.
Contessa Brewer: But the government has reserved the right-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: But-
Contessa Brewer: -to charge him in the future and he will-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Right.
Contessa Brewer: -remain in the prison - i-in a prison whe- regardless of whether it's Guantanamo Bay or another one. It's interesting though when you talking about- there's real emotion behind the people who were victims on the USS Cole. The former Commander came onto Morning Joe and was talking about the decision. Let me play it.
(on tape)
Commander Kirk Lippold: I'm actually very disappointed. I think that the administration by doing this, we had a legal process in place with military commissions that would've allowed due process to be served against the detainees, and now justice delayed is justice denied. There's no due process in place. And now we're just going to have to wait.
(end tape)
Contessa Brewer: General, I talked to a, a family member of someone who was killed on 9/11, the father who was going to meet with the President this afternoon, and he said look he went to Guantanamo Bay. He thought it was a very well-run judicial system for what it's worth. Can there be a better- is there a better option out there than the one that we've already had?
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Well, I think there is a better option. I-I-I have always been uncomfortable with the idea of military commissions. You might have to do that on a battlefield, but there's no reason to do that now. Because when you're winning the war against terror, you're going to win it by convincing people that, that the terrorist are bad people and that you have a legitimate system of justice and that your system is better than what they're trying to impose or tear down. And so, that way- for that reason you need to make your, your justice system-
Contessa Brewer: Yeah.
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: -as transparent as possible. Guantanamo wasn't. And so, I've got full sympathy with the families. I-I'd be outraged if this man was part of that and he wasn't brought to trial, but I think we can do it in a better way. I don't agree that because justice is delayed justice is denied. In this case, we're going to get the satisfaction of justice and having the world see that justice. And I think it's a far superior outcome, but we're going to have to be patient enough to let it happen.
Carlos Watson: Just-
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: The administration's got to work the system through.
Carlos Watson: General Clark, thank you so much for joining us. We very much appreciate your thoughts.
GENERAL WESLEY CLARK: Thank you.