The White House is close to making it official that putting Khalid Sheik Mohammed on trial in NYC isn’t such a good idea and that he should stand before a military tribunal. Opposition has come from both the left and the right and from major political figures inside and outside of New York. This will be a slap on the hand for A.G. Eric Holder.
However, the deal is still being negotiated by the Obama administration in hopes to receive some Republican support to close Gitmo, another unpopular Obama initiative which has stalled:
Top Obama advisers have been negotiating with Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) — a vocal critic of trying the Sept. 11 suspects in civilian court — in pursuit of a deal that would secure his help in closing Guantanamo. Graham has sought the creation a legal framework that would spell out how the government would detain and try future captives, but an administration official warned that a “grand bargain” is not likely in the immediate future. The official, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the talks with Graham have been mostly about “limited issues” involving the Mohammed trial and the future of Guantanamo.
How about we put KSM in front of a military tribunal and keep Gitmo running?
