The Sunshine Empire

The decision by the Justice Department to try self-confessed 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York Federal court has revealed what little regard conservatives have for the American legal system and the NYPD. Many conservatives have been going on television and the web to paint a system that many regard as the best in the world as incapable of convicting a self confessed mass murderer. They are once again leaping to use the terrorism fear card in a cynical attempt to inflate their weak political standing. The simple facts refute every argument they put forward as evidence that the choice to try these terrorists is a foolish one. This is another clumsy attempt to portray the Obama administration as weak, and to cover the sordid legacy of illegal torture left by the administration of George W. Bush.

The baseness of the fear mongering from many conservatives is striking in this story. The American legal system is the best in the world in many respects, but the fear of subjecting a self confessed terrorist to that legal system seems to be an astounding insult to the founders principles. So if you are following along at home, the message from conservatives is that we have the best health care system in the world but our justice system is just terrible. It also shows a shocking lack of knowledge of federal terrorism laws and the track record of such trials. Many conservatives have attempted to paint a picture of KSM (I don’t have the time type out his entire name even though I hate the overuse of calling people by their initials) being able to call Bush or Cheney to the stand and having a “platform” to spout his anti-American rhetoric. As if the feelings of Americans are so delicate as to need to be spared from such lunatic rantings. The claim that our intelligence gathering sources could be compromised also goes counter to reality in that existing federal terrorism laws allow the proceedings to go off book. I would think that conservatives would want KSM ranting and scaring people so they could justify more wiretapping of Americans. Let’s also just forget that no federal judge would allow cameras in the courtroom for such a trial. Conservatives further fear monger with the fantasy charge that a self confessed criminal would be released on some technicality. As Jon Stewart made plain in the video below, even if he was released onto the streets of New York City he’ll get quick justice regardless from the citizens of that city. They also cannot point to an instance of an alleged terrorist being set free after an acquittal because it hasn’t happened.

The arguments against using the best system of justice in the world then go to the safety of the people of New York. Many conservatives insist that this will bring an added terrorist threat to New York city, so therefore it’s reckless. History again ruins a good talking point when you look to the stellar record New York City has in terms of security during high profile terrorism trials. New York police commissioner Ray Kelly has said that he has no concerns with regards to the ability of the NYPD to provide the needed security. Then the sleeper cell arguments come. Does anyone really believe that if a terrorist was able to strike New York City that he wouldn’t? You expect me to believe that there are terrorists who just don’t have the enthusiasm they used to needing this as a jump start? After all this we get the argument from conservatives that we should not try the accused due to the feelings of the families of the victims. With all due respect, people’s feelings do not trump the importance of justice. What about the propaganda angle? Putting these mass murderers through the free system they purport to hate so much is a propaganda victory for us, the good guys. It says more about the resiliency of our values than keeping them without a trial in some extra-legal prison, which has been proven to be a propaganda tool of the terrorists.

In the end you are left with conservatives using the same tired scare tactics that they have used for most of this decade. Is says everything about their true regard for the American system of justice and the good people of New York City. The true issue behind this is the possibility of another discussion of the Bush administration’s illegal torture program. The American legal system is not too weak to deal with a self confessed terrorist, and the NYPD is not too weak to provide security for a high profile terrorism trial as they have done many times before. But conservatives seem to think both are too weak. The propaganda of Bush’s torture and extra-legal prison will be invalidated when KSM is convicted in open court in the very city he looked to destroy by the very system that he hates.

Related posts:

1. Those Against Due Process Ignore History And Reality
2. Conservatives Gleefully Proclaim Ft. Hood Terrorism As The Nation Mourns
3. SCOTUS Sides With The Constitution
4. twitter.com/SunshineEmpire Updates for 2009-11-18
5. Torture Memo Authors Will Walk Free