Having the 9/11 terror trial in NYC could be a ‘colossal mistake’

Attorney General Holder’s decision to try the Sept 11 terrorists in civilian courts right next to Ground Zero is a colossal mistake. First, it bypasses the Military Tribunals we set up after September 11 – specifically to deal with terrorist cases.
Second, a civilian trial will give these self-confessed terrorists full rights of American citizens, and leaves open the possibility they could get off on a technicality.

Third, it gives them the greatest public propaganda platform imaginable to spew their venom across the world’s airwaves.
But, perhaps worst of all, it puts New York City back in the crosshairs of every terrorist and terrorist-wanna-be in the world.
The Attorney General claims Mayor Bloomberg and NYPD Chief Ray Kelly believe they could provide security for the trial. I don’t know about you, but I care a lot less about the terrorists’ security than I do about the security of people who live and work in Manhattan – who will have a giant bulls-eye on their backs throughout this trial.

Maybe the NYPD can provide security for the courthouse and jail. But unless they put all of Manhattan on lockdown for the entire length of the trial – which means months – they can’t guarantee the city’s security.

That means any backpack going into the NY Subways, any boat coming into NY harbor, any van entering Manhattan, could be filled with explosives or weapons of mass destruction. Every suicide bomber knows that pulling off a terrorist attack in the media center of the world – with the whole world watching – is an opportunity too good to miss.

The Attorney General claims public civilian trials will show the world the superiority of the American justice system. It’s more likely they’ll expose the vulnerability of American security, and encourage terrorists to strike us again.