There was some talk of whether it would be a good idea to seek the death penalty for terrorism suspects, because it could make martyrs of them--perhaps something they would want, something the U.S. should deny them, and something that could provide some gratification, if not a rallying point, to jihadists who support them. But Attorney General Eric Holder said that he will seek the death penalty for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the four other Guantanamo detainees who will be transferred to New York for trial in a federal court for masterminding and helping to carry out the 9/11 attacks:
"We are, as I indicated, seeking the most serious punishment," Holder said. "I intend to ask for the death penalty when it comes to those five individuals. That is an indication, I think, of how serious I view these cases, how negative the consequences of their actions were and how they must face the ultimate justice," Holder said at a news conference today.
Good. Long overdue.
I know this is hyper-technical, but Holder actually indicated that the decision on death penaly has not been made. The Justice Department has a detailed and mandatory protocol for determining whether to seek the death penalty in each case in which it is a possibilty. The protocol involves a thorough review of the facts and crimes charged, and there is an opportunity for defense counsel to present arguments against the death penalty (which here might be contrary to their client's instructions, so it may not occur.) The circumstances here make the decision a foregone conclusion, but they will go through the process.
This is unbelievable. We are going to bring these guys on our shores, give them all our constitutional rights and somehow in all this we think "justice" is being done? Terrorism is not a "crime" it is an act of war and terrorists are not criminals, they are combatants. Why reward them with civil courts? Give them military tribunals, quick appeals, then hang them all within one year. Absolutely unbelievable.
We will lose the war in Afghanistan because we want everyone to play fair, and we can't defend OURSEVLES from this because the local government may or is corrupt. If THAT is our dividing line, then all these terrorists will be safe to attack us again and again and again.
Time to impeach Obama for failing to defend this Country.
Why didn't GWB do what you propose: "Give them military tribunals, quick appeals, then hang them all within one year?"
Should Bush have been impeached for, y'know, actually failing to protect the country? rather than just hypothetically failing?
We've successfully prosecuted dozens of terrorists in the United States, successfully imprisoned them, and successfully executed them.
Why are you so scared? He's not Magneto, y'know? We can handle the bearded fat man just fine.