The Justice Department and White House may be considering a new — umm, old? — venue to try master terrorist Khalid Sheik Mohammed. It was supposed to be NYC because Attorney General Eric Holder thinks that’s where the crime was committed. So naturally, NYC would be the place to hold the trial.
But guess what? Hell hath no fury like terrorist-hating New Yorkers scorned. And when New Yorkers are pissed, oh boy, they’d let you hear it all straight-up. So now the federal government is contemplating moving the KSM trial back to Gitmo, but the administration says it’s all Congress’ fault:
The administration is likely considering Gitmo because Congress is moving to cut off funding for holding the expensive trials in civilians courts.
Rep. Peter King (R-LI) has introduced a bill that would prohibit the use of Justice Department funds to try Guantanamo detainees in federal civilian courts, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) said he would introduce a similar bill in the Senate next week.
The Washington Post, meanwhile, reports that wherever the terror trials are eventually held, it is virtually certain that they will not take place in New York City.
Police Commissioner Ray Kelly yesterday credited Mayor Bloomberg, who spoke out against the holding the trials in New York, with spurring the Obama administration to reconsider.
“I think the president responded to, certainly, the mayor’s statement yesterday and community concerns, and it, quite frankly, gives us a little more room in the Police Department,” he said.
“The mayor’s position is the right position, and I think the mayor was the reason it was moved.
“There was a lot of concern in the community. A lot of other political leaders were worried about it, but it wasn’t until the mayor made the statement that the White House reacted. It’s the right decision.”
Don’t allow KSM back on NYC soil. Do the right thing. It’s not about Bush policies or Obama policies. It’s doing what is best for NYC and for the country.
