Terror on Trial

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091118/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_sept11_trial

http://www.cnn.com/US/9801/08/yousef/index.html


For the past few days, debate has been raging on about whether or not Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the “mastermind” of 9/11/01, should be tried in New York City in federal court. Some of the people who oppose it claim that it will make NYC “less safe”, more of a “target”, and that since he isn’t a US Citizens then he doesn’t deserve the right to be tried in a US court.

First off, NYC will be a target tomorrow, it was a target 15 years ago, it will be a target in 20 years, and whether or not a trial is performed there will not change that in the slightest. Also, where were all of these people 10 years ago? The first World Trade Center bomber was not a citizen and yet was tried in federal court in NEW YORK CITY. Was this a problem then? No. Did it make NYC “less safe” and more of a “target”? No. He was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life without so much as a hiccup in the judicial system. So it can be done the same way for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Before Rudy and all these other people bitch moan about something that gets them into the limelight they might decide to do a little research before hand. We wouldn’t want them to make TOTAL asses out of themselves.

That all being said, I believe that he should not be tried in New York, Washington DC, or any other city in the United States. If we truly want to show the world that our justice system works, then we should acknowledge that there is NO WAY an unbiased jury of his peers can be found in any state of this country. If this country wants to set an example then we should say that we have a biased opinion in the matter and as such the world court should be the venue for these trials. The entire point of the World Court is to allow ANYONE of ANY COUNRTY a fair trial when the country in which the crime was committed cannot be unbiased. Now yes, there is a chance that no matter where they are tried, that the case could be dismissed and the perps set free. That is our own damn fault! The leaders of this country know our laws, and the laws of the world, that state precisely what you can and CANNOT do to a person in your custody. Also they know what is and is not admissible in a court of law. They know that if you say….TORTURE SOMEONE, any and all “evidence” obtained by that torture is inadmissible. If a cop kicks the shit out of a murderer to get a confession, he is kicking the shit out of his own case. When you know the rules and don’t obey them then you fully deserve to have the case turn to dust in your own hands. We have laws and if your actions break them then you have to deal with any and all possible consequences of those actions.

Lastly, the perps of 9/11 should NOT be sentenced to death under ANY circumstances! Whether I am for or against the death penalty has nothing to do with this view, but has everything to do with facts. There is a reason why Ramzi Yousef (the first World Trade Center bomber) was sentenced to life in prison and not death, and anyone with half a brain should realize why. If you sentence Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to death you are doing nothing more than giving him EXACTLY what he and his cause want. Martyrdom. If this government and this country cannot realize this simple fact then we truly do not understand our enemy, and that is a very dangerous position from which to wage war.
It is simple to stick to personal principles and the principles of this country when times are good. It is far harder to do that when times get tough.

“…you have to make the choice between what is right and what is easy.”
- J.K. Rowling: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire