[Foriaelalse]

What if this backfires and he walks away as a 'free' man?

[drugsprevi]

No way. He's busted. It won't happen.

They got true evidence that he conspired this tragic event, and that he consulted with Binladen about it. And Binladen agreed with it.

They'll be punished either by LIP or death. All of them.

[Enjknsua]

No way. He's busted. It won't happen.

They got true evidence that he conspired this tragic event, and that he consulted with Binladen about it. And Binladen agreed with it.

They'll be punished either by LIP or death. All of them.

Wasn't information extracted under several dozen attempts of waterboarding?

Hence the problem; any evidence is going to be automatically tainted because the CIA went awol on him and his partners. Why then bother with a jury trial which will in no way be impartial?

It would be far better to build a specially constructed jail (possibly on a military base) where he would spend the rest of his life.

[BronUVT]

Circumstancial evidence has him as having boldly admitting his guilt to CIA agents after being captured.

Without a jury, his attourney(s) can successfully declare a mistrial, which means that he could be let go, and should or if that happens, he can almost never be retried for that crime.

Almost like what happened in the OJ double-murder trial, only, except that the prosecution didn't have enough circumstancial evidence to successfully win a conviction, so OJ was let go then.

There is really no place for terrorists here or abroad! Let the punishment fit the crime! They plotted and successfully had thousaunds of people killed. Those evil madmen NEED to die!! I'm sorry, but I just can't see them being allowed to walk and breath after the diabolical plan that they were able to pull off!

[staisacic]

I oppose the death penalty.

I'd like to know what the evidence is against them. If it came from someone being waterboarded at Gitmo, it is suspect.

[JennaJJxoxoxo]

Can anyone really believe that Holder is stupid enough to bring the suspects to trial in a civilian court if there isn't incredibly good evidence that has nothing to do with anything that was obtained due to or after waterboarding (or gathered via other Cheney-Bush judicial practices)? If the DOJ is that stupid and careless then, well ... wow, we'd be f***ed, eh?

Would they then have to release them into the general population? If so there's little doubt that The Post and others would be there to cover it. Wouldn't be surprised if the detainees were greeted by some NYers outside the jail who want to give them a special NYC goodbye.

Andrew Sullivan recently posted an article about a number of "converts" to Jihad who have now recanted. I'd not be surprised if there are a few of those types of folks who know alot about these fellows and are brought into the court to talk about it.

The Jihadists Who Have Recanted II

[hoconnor6605]

"Guantanamo Bay was the biggest victory for Jihadism since 9/11. In fact, Cheney's war crimes have endangered our civilization more profoundly than 9/11."

This is the point. We torture, terrorists win. This is f****d up in so many, many, ways. If I follow this line of thought, I'll be depressed all day, and nothing will come of it, so I'll stop here.

[siflversonemunk]

Former NYC mayor Guiliani is opposing the idea of having any of the mastermind terrorists brought to NY for their trials. Says that it is not good publicity to do that, I think.

[alenbarbaf]

Can anyone really believe that Holder is stupid enough...

...If the DOJ is that stupid and careless then, well ... wow, we'd be f***ed, eh?

Considering the couple of written documents submitted to courts supporting DOMA, yes, I do think DOJ is that stupid and careless. DOJ has morphed from an impartial executor of law and justice into a politically driven machine. It gets my vote of "no confidence."

[viagbloggerz]

Republicans plan to grill Holder about his announcement that the dangerous detainees would not be released while here in the United States.

The Obama Admistration says that it is backing Holder's decision and is confident with the results of the pending trials of Mohommed and the others.

[PNCarl]

Lawmakers again, are said to be pushing for the death penalty in Massacusetts. The last time that this came up was when Mitt Romney was in office as governer in '05.

[brorialsibers]

Trial by Ferry

By JULIE MENIN

There is nothing wrong with holding the trial of the man who has described himself as the mastermind of 9/11, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, in federal court in New York. But there is something wrong with spending upward of $200 million per year on security for a multiyear trial and disrupting the lives of people who have homes and jobs in Lower Manhattan, where the trial is to be held. Fortunately, there is a relatively easy solution to this problem: Governors Island.

Conducting the Mohammed trial there would not be the first time the 172-acre island, situated in the East River off Lower Manhattan, has been used for law enforcement. Before the federal government sold the island to New York State in 2003, it had long been a military installation. During the Civil War, enlisted Confederate soldiers were imprisoned in its fortress-like Castle Williams; officers were held in Fort Jay (at the time called Fort Columbus). After the Civil War, Castle Williams was a military stockade.

British and American forces used the island for more than 200 years precisely because it was so easy to secure.

Residents of Lower Manhattan who live close to the federal courthouse where the trial is to be held have rightly expressed concern about the safety measures that will be needed. They argue persuasively that a community that has already dealt with some of the worst aspects of the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks — years of rebuilding, environmental hazards and security checkpoints — should not have to face additional burdens.

This epic courtroom drama, they say, should not be played out in the midst of a dense residential and office neighborhood.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg and elected officials like Senator Charles Schumer correctly insist that the federal government pay for the entire cost of the trials. However, they have not addressed the central question of whether, in the midst of an economic recession, it makes sense for anyone to spend more than $200 million on security.

Enough questions have been raised that it is worth urging Attorney General Eric Holder to vet other locations for the federal trial — beyond the courthouse — and to reassess costs and security issues with the police.

As part of that vetting, Governors Island should be given serious consideration. The island has no residents and few office workers. Access is by ferry only, which should enhance security and thus potentially reduce costs.

Though a trial date has not yet been set, Mr. Holder needs to move swiftly to ensure that the Governors Island option receives thorough consideration.

Preserving the values of democracy and the rule of law are of the utmost importance, and a federal trial in New York, which I fully support, certainly accomplishes that. Let us show the world that these values are of paramount importance not by imposing an extravagant ring of steel around a community that is still rebounding from 9/11, but rather by selecting a far safer, less expensive and arguably more appropriately historic location.

Julie Menin is the chairwoman of Community Board 1, which covers Lower Manhattan and Governors Island.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/op...html?th&emc=th

[Bounce]

Mayor calls island trial move 'dumb'

By Josh Rogers

Mayor Bloomberg this morning called moving the 9/11 terror trials to Governors Island “one of the dumber ideas” he’s ever heard, but the idea picked up steam Thursday anyway.

The mayor made the explosive comment Thursday morning at a Gracie Mansion meeting with about two dozen newspaper publishers including John W. Sutter, publisher of Downtown Express and other Community Media newspapers. The mayor’s comment was not immediately reported, and Thursday’s momentum probably proceeded without knowledge of his views.

Bloomberg also said the trials in Lower Manhattan would bring more hardship to the Park Row area and that he has asked Police Commissioner Ray Kelly repeatedly about the feasibility of reopening the street. Kelly has kept the street closed to protect One Police Plaza. The federal courthouse and detention center where the 9/11 terror suspects will be held and tried are across the street from police headquarters.

There may have been a change of heart about the island later in the day. Kelly said he’s “certainly open to that suggestion” of moving the island to Governors Island, according to NY1.com. The Associated Press reported this afternoon that Kelly has ordered an assessment of the feasibility of the island to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the admitted 9/11 mastermind, and some of his accused accomplices.

Both the mayor and Kelly have emphasized the high costs of holding the trial Downtown, putting the first year security measures at $250 million.

Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Councilmember Margaret Chin of Lower Manhattan and Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. released a statement today saying the trials should not be held Downtown and that the island should be studied as an option.

Julie Menin, chairperson of Community Board 1 is spearheading the effort to move the trial to the island. Alan Gerson, who left his City Council seat Jan. 1, may have been the first to give public voice to the idea at community meeting in early December.

C.B. 1’s Executive Committee endorsed the move at a meeting Wednesday night and the full board will take up the issue Tuesday.

“Governors Island is a reasonable alternative solution to the federal courthouse at 500 Pearl St. which is situated in the middle of the fourth largest commercial business district in the country and a dense residential neighborhood,” Menin said Wednesday night, prior to Bloomberg’s comment.

Jan Lee, a resident of Mott St., said he supported the Governors Island move because “the different layers of security for the trial would do us in.”

http://downtownexpress.com/de_352/govisland.html

[anfuckinggs]

Christ. Just try them in NJ.

Exit 13, over by Ikea. At least the terrorists would have to pay tolls to try and attack them. Hold it during rush hour and they will get caught in traffic!

[JOR4qxYH]

Bloomberg is going to wind up trying to explain why he thinks the idea is "one of the dumber" he's heard.

Actually, very viable. Governors Island is part of New York County, so within the jurisdiction of New York Southern District.

[vicgirl]

There's a great Civil War era prison on GI.

http://www.correctionhistory.org/civ...sletour31.html

http://www.correctionhistory.org/civ...sletour38.html

[Qutlsilh]

This is all cleverly crafted government BS. Hire foreign terrorists to fly planes into buildings, use the disaster to start a war for private interests, then eliminate the evidence. Bin Laden and your leaders are great friends, that's the reason bin laden is on the loose.

[feroiodpiop]

Please expand and back up this declaration:

Hire foreign terrorists to fly planes into buildings...

[EarnestKS]

There's a great Civil War era prison on GI.

http://www.correctionhistory.org/civ...sletour31.html

http://www.correctionhistory.org/civ...sletour38.html

Looks like the Relic from the Dinosaur Age!

[QEoMi752]

I didn't know there were man made buildings in the age of Dinosaurs?!