17 Jan 10: The Obama Administration’s decision to prosecute 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four of his cohorts in civilian court is irresponsible. It is a travesty to give the same constitutional protections afforded American citizens to dangerous foreign terrorists seeking to destroy the United States. I condemn this decision.
The destruction of the World Trade Center was an act of war, not a criminal act. The 9/11 conspirators should be treated as war criminals and prosecuted in a military tribunal. The current special military tribunals were created by the 2006 Military Commissions Act, a law adopted with bipartisan Congressional support. Before the proceedings at “Gitmo” were stopped, the military tribunals there had earned a reputation for fairness and independence.
Pre-9/11, terrorism was seen as a law-enforcement issue (note that the 1993 World Trade Center bombers were tried in criminal court). The current administration is going back to pre-9/11 thinking. The key question is whether trying these men in a criminal proceeding will make America safer or place the country at greater risk. The answer is obvious. Not only the courthouse, but all of Manhattan, will become a potential terror target – again. Discovery proceedings could lead to classified information becoming public. The judicial proceedings could become a platform to promulgate an ideology of hate. These proceedings could also inspire more home grown terrorists. All this could be avoided if the men were tried in a military setting.
As your U.S. Representative, I will always work to keep the consequences of 9/11 in focus. I know that pre-9/11 thinking is dangerous. When determining how I will vote, I will respond to your concerns and opinions and I will always consider whether an action will make America safer or place the country at greater risk.