U.S. may abandon civilian trial for 9/11 suspect

[Subdivisions]

WASHINGTON - Attorney General Eric Holder is leaving open the possibility of trying professed Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed before a military commission instead of the civilian trial originally planned for New York City.

"At the end of the day, wherever this case is tried, in whatever forum, what we have to ensure is that it's done as transparently as possible and with adherence to all the rules," Holder told The Washington Post in an interview published in Friday's editions.

"If we do that, I'm not sure the location or even the forum is as important as what the world sees in that proceeding."

...snip...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35367199/ns/us_news-security/

First, The City of New York was all for this trial being held in their city - spoke about it in a prideful way. Then, they did a 180° saying they couldn't handle the security and disruptions. So, the news came that the administration was scouting a new location for the trial. And, now, we get the first stroke in an effort to get us used to the idea that KSM's trial will take place in a military court. Dontcha just love being played?

Looks like the wingnuts may win this one after all. Sigh.

[LiberalFighter]

1. AG Holder is chickenshit.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

2. +1

eom

[Subdivisions]

3. I'm not surprised there's little interest in this development here. It was, after all,

just part of the programming.

[dgibby]

4. Evidently his decision to try KSM in NY upset little Rahm. n/t

[ThomWV]

5. Just a reminder

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.

[Solly Mack]

6. Will his extraordinary rendition to secret prisons by the CIA and his torture by the CIA

be a part of that transparency?

[Subdivisions]

7. I am just as interested in the details of how he plotted the attacks

of 9/11, moreso even. After all, that is why he is being held. The trial is about KSM being the terrorist who planned 9/11, not the CIA rendention and torture, though it would be interesting to hear what KSM has to say about that too.

[ThomWV]

8. As complicated as it was it could have been done with a bag of popcorn and a movie

Here, you guys go learn how to steer an airplane, then on the same day buy tickets. then fly planes into buildings - the biggest ones you can find.

And then they'd use the next hour to work out the details and make more popcorn.

This was not rocket science.

[Subdivisions]

10. I don't care how complicated, or not, that the planning of 9/11 was. Unlike many,

and apparently many here on this board, I have not forgotten 9/11 and I want to see how it was pulled off explained in a public criminal court.

That's no rocket science.

[Solly Mack]

13. That's a talking point worthy of Cheney.

To claim people who are concerned about their government committing war crimes means they have forgotten what happened on September 11, 2001.

If being concerned about torture means you've forgotten September 11, then by your reasoning, dismissing the torture of a suspect as meaningless to the trial of that suspect must mean you support those war crimes...and by extension, the war criminals.

Two can play that game.

[Subdivisions]

14. I've been here for four years. Have you EVER seen me support

Cheney, war crimes, or war criminals.

Let me say this again: The war crimes are a matter for a different trial at a different time (yeah, right, as if that will ever happen). THIS THREAD is about the juggling of Kahlid Sheik Muhammed's trial for the crime of atacking the WTC and Pentagon on 9/11. It is NOT about the CIA's rendition and torture crimes.

You know, every once in a while people should bother to check to see who, exactly, it is that they are responding to. That way, before insulting someone for an unfortunate failure of adequate expression, you can determine if the person you are responding to actually conforms to the scolding you're delivering. My comment above was not meant to offend, and yet it did. You responded by insinuating that I support war criminals. That is a slander that just is not true. I have always had the utmost respect for you, Solly Mack, and I thought the feeling was mutual. Have I been wrong? Do you think I deserve to have such a charge levelled against me? Am I not a member here and a Progressive Democrat in good standing? I think I am. I do not support war crimes or war criminals and wish to see them get what they deserve.

Finally, would you not admit that 9/11 is a topic that is taboo, both here on DU and, too often, on the street? I mean, it's as if you can't even talk about 9/11 in polite company anymore. THAT was the point I was trying to make when I said people seem to have forgotten 9/11. I was NOT trying to diminish the role of the CIA in renditions and torture, which is another whole ball of wax seperate and to itself.

[Solly Mack]

15. I've been here almost 9 years & and no DUer has forgotten what happened on 9-11-01

Yet you felt the need to claim they had. I just turned it around on you. You insulted DUers (their intelligence and their compassion) by claiming they've "apparently" forgotten what happened on September 11, 2001 and yet you're now insulted when I turn it around on you. Just because people bring up the torture of KSM doesn't mean they've forgotten what happened that day. I turned it around on you to show you how wrong you were in your statement....to make a point.

I've never seen you voice support for Bush Cheney but then you've never seen anyone on DU seriously say, 'Something happened on September 11, 2001? I must have forgotten' either.

No, September 11, 2001 is not a taboo topic on DU. It is, however, content driven...

September 11 discussions on the validity of the official story are relegated to its own forum but as that forum does exist...it's hardly taboo.

I live on a military post so I can't go a week without someone mentioning September 11, 2001...and the content varies depending on who brings it up. So, no, I can't say that I have noticed it being a taboo subject "on the street" or in "polite company"

People have not forgotten what happened on September 11, 2001 - but heading toward the 9th year since it happened, it's understandable that it isn't the primary focus for the majority of people.

Actually, what the US government did to KSM does play a role in his trial - his confession(s) came after he was tortured. So, yeah, that torture will overshadow the entire trial....regardless of where it is held.


If you will read what you yourself posted... from the article,Holder is quoted as saying:

"... ensure is that it's done as transparently as possible and with adherence to all the rules," Holder told The Washington Post in an interview published in Friday's editions.

"If we do that, I'm not sure the location or even the forum is as important as what the world sees in that proceeding."


My response was relevant to what Holder said...and as the rules will vary depending on military commission or civilian trial, my comment was made that much more relevant to the article posted.

Your "THIS THREAD" sounds like you want to determine what is an acceptable response to a thread you start and what is not. That's not your call. I hope I am mistaken about the intent of your "THIS THREAD"..



ETA: Links to right-wingers claiming how "people forgot 911" and why it is so insulting to DUers. We heard it for years. How if we said anything about how they were abusing the system and breaking laws...well, you must have forgotten 911.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/02/cheney-pins-blame-for-911_n_210300.html

"I don't have much tolerance or patience for those who suggest now with the benefit of hindsight eight years later, who have forgotten what in fact happened on 9/11," Cheney said. "It was the right thing to do. The threat is still out there."


John Boehner: Obama administration must have forgotten 9/11
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30616.html


'liberals have forgotten 9/11' ...after Rove said it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4861201

It was a constant talking point of the right and it still is..and it is insulting.

[Subdivisions]

16. Ok. We're just going in circles now. Clearly our perceptions are different.

I tried to explain. So, I give up. Suffice it to say that I would prefer for us to remain civil towards each other and that this little disagreement is just that, a disagreement.

[Solly Mack]

17. I'm not angry, Subdivisions. I was trying to explain what I did and why.

Peace.

[Solly Mack]

12. LOL Of course it isn't about the CIA & US government's war crimes...it never will be.

[waiting]

9. That would be really stupid and very terrible

The worst thing we can do is to back down and change the way we do things because of terrorists. That just proves to them that their tactics work. Allow this to be handled the way our system was meant to work, the rule of law. I don't care where they have the trial, but it had Goddamn better be a civil trial. If they buckle on this, they will buckle on anything and everything.

[EmeraldCityGrl]

11. Bring the trial to Seattle...

Seattle would about as far from NY as one could get. Then maybe it wouldn't
be so scary for those Repub East Coasters. Having the trial in a "Liberal"
city like Seattle would make their heads spin.