Dana Perino: I root for Rahm and James Jones against Brennan/Holder (on KSM trial)

[ohiodemocratic]

Wingnut ex Bush press secretary Dana Perino (along with an ex counsel to W. Bush) went to the National Review to take sides in the battle between White House officials, some of whom support civilian trials for 9-11 plotters versus others who prefer military tribunals. Excerpts:

But we are happy to report that the White House appears to be taking steps, halting though they may be, to rectify some of its most serious mistakes. Last week, the White House let it be known that the president would take a direct role in deciding where and in what forum — military commission or civilian trial — KSM would be tried, effectively signaling that it had taken over the process from Attorney General Eric Holder. This is an important step toward reversing course and trying KSM in a military commission.

It also represents a major victory for Rahm Emanuel, who, it has been widely reported, strongly opposed trying KSM in civilian court, and has also opposed a number of the attorney general’s other moves, such as investigating CIA interrogators for alleged abuses of terrorist detainees after Obama had personally promised that would not happen. Emanuel is now in charge of working with Republicans and moderate Democrats in Congress to find a solution.

...

It would appear the battle lines have been drawn in the White House: Jones and Emanuel versus Brennan and Holder. For too long, the Brennan/Holder side was winning. It now looks like the Jones/Emanuel side has the advantage. Time will tell who ends up on top. We know which side we’re rooting for.

Emphasis is mine.



Rahm's opposition to civilian trials for 9-11 plotters has been documented by the New Yorker and the New York Times:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/02/15/100215fa_fact_mayer
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/us/politics/15holder.html?pagewanted=3&hpw

[rfranklin]

1. I root for Dana Perino to drop dead...

figuratively, of course.