NEW YORK (YBH.ME) – The Obama administration announced today that 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other terror suspects will be brought to the United States to stand trial. The five will face justice a short distance from the havoc allegedly caused by Al Qaeda in downtown New York.
The Obama administration’s decision to try Mr. Mohammed and four other terror suspects in civilian court is rife with potential trouble for the administration. Families of the 9/11 victims are purportedly furious over the decision. Debra Burlingame, an outspoken advocate for the 9/11 families said, “They know we don’t support this. We support military commissions but they are going to see a wave of fury, and I don’t think they’re prepared for it.”
Others worry that Al Qaeda, and their advocates, may turn the trials into a circus, painting the perpetrators as “victims” by focusing on alleged detainee mistreatment at Guantanamo Bay. If that happens, the President will likely take the fall for allowing his justice department to make this move.
It is not just the President at risk; last week Democrat Senators defeated a bill put forth by South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham that would have forced the President to keep the alleged 9/11 plotters before military courts. They too share the risk of bringing KSM and his cohorts to New York.
According to reports, upon capture, KSM said “I’ll talk to you in NY with my lawyer.” That day looks like it is fast approaching.
The ACLU roundly applauded the decision. “The transfer of cases to federal court is a huge victory for restoring due process and the rule of law, as well as repairing America’s international standing,” said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU.
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John Romano is the publisher and editor of Yes, But However!, a musician, a former political correspondent for BBC Radio London, and a serial web entrepreneur. Follow him on twitter: twitter.com/yesbuthowever or John Romano on Google+John Romano article archive.
