David Vitter: “I rise in support of S. Res. 457, expressing the Senate's disappointment with the government of Germany concerning their…”

“I rise in support of S. Res. 457, expressing the Senate's disappointment with the government of Germany concerning their release of convicted terrorist and murderer Mohammad Ali Hammadi. The German government in December of 2005 released Mohammad Ali Hammadi, a Hezbollah leader who killed U.S. Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem in the June 1985 Hezbollah hijacking of TWA Flight 847. Coincidentally, a few days later Susanne Osthoff, a German hostage was released. Mr. Stethem was savagely beaten and then executed for refusing the demands of his hijackers. Hammadi and his fellow terrorists escaped, but Hammadi was eventually arrested in Germany in 1987 for traveling with liquid explosives and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Mr. Stethem. Hammadi's other accomplices are still part of the FBI's most wanted list and have a 15 million dollar bounty on their heads. The German government released Hammadi despite a U.S. request for his extradition to face numerous charges of terrorism. He was sentenced to life yet only served 18 years. Furthermore, despite our longstanding agreement to honor each others' extradition requests the German government flew Hammadi to Lebanon to reunite with his brothers who are senior Hezbollah leaders. The Germans did this despite knowing the United States does not have an extradition treaty with the government of Lebanon. Sadly, the family of United States Navy diver Robert Dean Stethem was not notified in advance of Mr.…”