by Dr. Deborah Bauers

Created on: March 08, 2013   Last Updated: March 10, 2013

There are some secrets that should be carefully guarded until the exact moment when sharing them can be cause for jubilance and even celebration. The announcement that Suliman Abu Ghaith has arrived in New York to answer to charges of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens around the globe, is a revelation of monumental proportions for America’s people. The decision to try Ghaith in civil court is supported by the current Presidential administration. But on Capitol Hill, conservative lawmakers are asking a lot of questions about why Osama Bin Laden's son-in-law was spirited into New York instead of sent straight to Guantanamo to answer for his crimes.

In a formal indictment filed and dated March 4, 2013 in the United States District Court of New York, Ghaith is named as co-conspirator and active participant in a network of Al Qaeda activities that have targeted United States citizens at home and abroad for over two decades. Many find it fitting that Mr. Abu Ghaith should stand trial for his crimes just steps away from the former World Trade Center’s 911 Memorial.  Early reports had indicated that Ghaith would perhaps be willing to cooperate with the state department in turning over a significant amount of intel about the terrorist organization’s activities. However, just in, Fox News reports that Sulaiman Abu Ghaith has pled “not guilty” to charges revealed earlier this week.

The saga of Ghaith’s capture and escort to New York City began in February of 2013 with his detainment in Ankara, Turkey when it was discovered that he was traveling under a false passport. Prior to that time, he was apparently living and “working” in Iran.  There are conflicting reports as to whether Ghaith, like other members of the al Qaeda, was being detained in Iran, his movements restricted, or whether he was receiving asylum. Although Turkey’s government refused to remand Abu Ghaith directly into U.S. custody, its decision to deport him to Kuwait resulted, perhaps unwittingly, in Ghaith’s capture by U.S. operatives while the terrorist was passing through Jordan in early March.  From there, he was flown to New York for interrogation and trial.

In an recent interview with ABC News, Dr. Thomas Lynch of the National Defense University, herald’s Ghaith’s capture as a major intelligence coo, stating that one of the remaining top ten al Qaeda terrorists from the 1990‘s has been brought to justice. The

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