Holder in the dock as critics focus on New York 9/11 terror trial
No one knows for sure when (or even if) Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other accused 9/11 terrorists will enter a New York courtroom to face a judge and jury. For one thing, defense attorneys may want to shift the venue away from the place just blocks from where the World Trade Center鈥檚 twin towers fell in a murderous pile.
But for US Attorney General Eric Holder -- front man in the Obama administration鈥檚 decision to bring alleged 9/11 鈥渕astermind鈥� Mohammed and the others from Guant谩namo Bay, Cuba, to Manhattan -- the trial has already begun, and he鈥檚 the one in the dock.
No one would disagree with Mr. Holder鈥檚 characterization of the September 2001 attacks by hijacked aircraft as 鈥渓iterally the crime of the century.鈥�
But it took only about three nanoseconds for politicians and other partisans to begin weighing in on the subject, generally along these lines as expressed in the two national newspapers published in New York City:
鈥淓ric Holder's decision to move a trial on war crimes to American soil is morally confused, dangerous and political to a fault.鈥�
鈥淚t was an enormous victory for the rule of law, a major milestone in Mr. Obama鈥檚 efforts to close the detention camp at Guant谩namo Bay, Cuba, and an important departure from [former president] Bush鈥檚 disregard for American courts and their proven ability to competently handle high-profile terror cases.鈥�
New York鈥檚 mayor, governor, and police commissioner all say they鈥檙e OK with Holder鈥檚 decision.
"They are responsible for the deaths of 3,000 people right here in Manhattan, and I think they should be tried in the venue where they committed the crime," Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly "That has always been the standard in our criminal justice system. I see it fitting and appropriate."
that the city has hosted terrorism trials before, including the successful 1995 conviction of Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman and other Islamic militants responsible for the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
But Obama鈥檚 (and Holder鈥檚) political opponents are having none of that.
House Minority Leader John Boehner (R) of Ohio) calls the decision 鈥渇urther evidence that the White House is reverting to a dangerous pre-9/11 mentality: treating terrorism as a law enforcement issue and hoping for the best.鈥�
Senate minority whip Jon Kyl (R) of Arizona says it is 鈥渁 constant amazement to me that there are some who seem more concerned about extending legal protections to terrorists than security protection to Americans.鈥�
鈥淚t is inconceivable that we would bring these alleged terrorists back to New York for trial, to the scene of the carnage they created eight years ago, and give them a platform to mock the suffering of their victims and the victims鈥� families, and rally their followers to continue waging jihad against America,鈥� said Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, who calls himself an 鈥渋ndependent Democrat鈥� but who sides with Republicans on most military and defense policies.
The response from families of those killed on 9/11 has been mixed. Some don鈥檛 want to have to revisit that bright and horrific morning eight years ago. Others see the New York trial -- assuming it results in convictions -- as a way to witness justice done and perhaps to gain some sense of closure.
鈥淟et them come to New York,鈥� Jim Riches, a retired deputy chief of the New York Fire Department, whose firefighter son Jimmy died in the attack, told the New York Times. 鈥淟et them get on trial. Let鈥檚 do it the right way, for all the world to see what they鈥檙e like. Let鈥檚 go. It鈥檚 been too long. Let鈥檚 get some justice.鈥�
Justice may be everybody鈥檚 goal -- those who support Attorney General Holder鈥檚 decision and those outraged over it. But a New York trial for those whose alleged acts led to two divisive wars resulting in much more loss of life can never mark the end for those who bore the most.
鈥淭here鈥檚 never going to be any closure for me," who lost her son, Paul Battaglia. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to be involved in the trial. It鈥檚 not going to do it for me, it鈥檚 just not. It鈥檚 not going to make me feel any better. This is my son. This is a piece of me that鈥檚 gone."
See also:
Who are Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the other accused terrorists?
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed 9/11 trial carries risks
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