Before we get started:

NO. DO NOT DO THIS.

OK, wanted to get that out of the way.

[UPDATE: Full background here.]

Anyway: I will admit to being highly skeptical about the initial report that the “U.S. State Department is actively considering negotiations with the Egyptian government for the transfer of custody of Omar Abdel-Rahman, also known as “the Blind Sheikh,” for humanitarian and health reasons.” It seemed absolutely insane that any administration would do this. Everybody knows that Abdel-Rahman would be released just as soon as he ended up in Egyptian custody. This is what happened to the Lockerbie bomber, and it would happen to that guy. So I didn’t believe that this was going to happen – a belief that even survived the sight of six house Chairs (Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Appropriations*) and two subcommittee chairs formally telling the Attorney General and the Secretary of State not to do this (although I will admit that said belief took a battering in the process).

But now I see this:

The Obama administration is weighing the release of blind Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman — the spiritual adviser to the 1993 World Trade Center bombers — in a stunning goodwill gesture toward Egypt that has touched off a political firestorm, officials said yesterday.

The Egyptian government “asked for his release,” an administration source told The Post — and Rep. Peter King (R-LI) confirmed the request is being considered.

Pete King is the Homeland Security Chair, and he’s one of the people who signed the aforementioned letter – which, by the way, was asking about rumors that the ‘transfer’ of Abdel-Rahman was being considered, and not a confirmation that it actually was being considered. If this is actually happening, then… it needs to stop. Abdel-Rahman did not stop being a terrorist mastermind when he got old and sick; and I don’t want him released.

Neither do the American people.

Moe Lane (crosspost)

*Yup. The heavy hitters.