Civilian trial is purely political

Eugene Robinson’s Nov. 22 column, “Justice: battlefield in the war of ideas,” tried to justify the civilian trial in New York of the five confessed 9/11 terrorists. He is way off base, as usual, on several fronts.

First, if you believe this is Eric Holder’s decision, I have for sale, as the song says, “some oceanfront property in Arizona.” When Eric Holder was quizzed by Sen. Lindsey Graham about the decision, his responses revealed the babbling buffoon he is. This was Obama’s decision and his labeling it a “prosecutorial decision” merely distances himself from the fallout should it go awry.

Second, to compare this act with the shootings at Fort Hood is absurd. The type of treatment required within our justice system of an American citizen, no matter the perpetrator’s political leanings, is clear. The treatment of alien war criminals captured on the battlefield has been equally clear. The two should not overlap.

Third, to on one hand profess to showcase our justice system as fair, and on the other say they will be found guilty and never released regardless of the outcome is about as hypocritical as can be imagined. Either our system is fair and we abide by the results, or we don’t. Make up your mind.

No, this move to civilian trial has one motive. It is an opportunity Obama and his government and media lackeys are unable to resist: to put our armed forces, our intelligence agencies and the Bush administration on trial under the guise of fair treatment of terrorists.

Chris Johnson

Marysville

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