Pages

Monday, November 16, 2009

Civilian Trial for Terrorist is a Mistake

News that Kahlid Sheikh Mohammed would be tried in a civilian court in New York was met with no small amount of pushback, and for good reason.  It's a bad idea.

Some Obama supporters have claimed that a civilian trial is exactly what the country needs to prove to the world that our values can withstand the horrific act that took place on 9/11.  Such a trial could, in my opinion, do the exact opposite.

I believe that if you asked President Obama if there was any chance that Mohammed would be found not guilty at this trial and then released, the answer would be a definitive no.  In that case, what is the point of the trial?  This isn't a criticism based on a military solution being superior to a law enforcement approach when it comes to terrorism.  This is a criticism of a criminal trial whose outcome is known in advance - the exact opposite of what the American legal system purports to be.

If the Obama administration thinks they have the right guy, and all indications are they do, then let them put forth the evidence that they are ready to produce at a trial.  If it is in our national interests to incarcerate or execute Mohammed, the Obama administration should do so.  If they have the courage of their convictions there really is no need for a show trial at which the outcome is known ahead of time, but our enemies get one more chance to do us harm.

No comments: