White House orders Justice Department to look for other places to hold 9/11 terror trial

[Freddie Stubbs]

Source: NY Daily News

White House officials have told the Justice Department to consider other venues for the 9/11 terror trial that was to be held in lower Manhattan, the Daily News has learned.

The decision came after Mayor Bloomberg and other politicians across the state railed against President Obama's plan to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in Manhattan Federal Court.

Attorney General Eric Holder now has to think of other places where the trial could take place, officials said.

It was not immediately clear if the reassessment means the trial will definitely be moved out of the city.




Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2010/01/28/2010-01-28_white_house_orders_justice_department_to_look_for_other_places_to_hold_911_terro.html

[stray cat]

1. A wise man knows when to consider alternatives

[gateley]

4. Absolutely. IMO he's doing the right thing. nt

[hlthe2b]

2. I know "not in my backyard" is shitty to say...

But Denver dealt with the McVeigh trial... I don't relish having this one. Unfortunately, I suspect we are being considered.

[gateley]

6. I think military bases were suggested -- by the Republicans, but that might

be a good option. I understand that it's to be a civil trial, but I'm thinking logistics.

I empathize with the New Yorkers -- it would disrupt their daily lives so much (as you learned with McVeigh). Not fair.

Plus, and I hate to say the Repubs may have a valid suggestion, but NYC might become a target for sympathetic terrorists trying to make a statement.

[24601]

43. Denver was the change of venue away from OK-City. NY was never

a venue change, neither would be the DC metro area nor Shanksville, PA.

[onehandle]

3. I'm not saying that this is a bad idea, but it will appear that Obama takes orders from Fox News.

Well played, right-wing. Well played.

[marshall]

7. The orders came from Bloomberg

He said it would cost too much and take too long to be practical in NYC.

[Pirate Smile]

8. Dems, especially in NY, and Bloomberg were all saying to move it. If it was just Fox that would be

different.

[gateley]

10. Disagree. I say it shows that Obama is reasonable, listens to valid concerns

from the Mayor and the citizens of the proposed venue, and is confident enough to change his mind if he feels it's in the greater interest to do so.

[nsd]

11. +1

[onehandle]

13. Well, of course that's true. But it won't stop Fox News from crowing in victory.

Which, sucks.

[gateley]

18. But they claim victory even when there isn't one. And the only people who listen

to them aren't worth worrying about.

[No Elephants]

5. Wonder what made Bloomberg change his mind? You can't buy him.

Blackmail? Promising him yet another term over NY's term limits?

[gateley]

14. I heard that they gave it further thought and realized how disruptive it could

be to the New Yorkers' daily lives. Like life isn't stressful enough. :7

Plus, with all the security I'm assuming the City would need to provide, it would cost the taxpayers about $1 Billion.

Seems like a good decision, IMO.

[tularetom]

9. Bad decision especially right after standing up to these asswipes in the SOTU

Makes it look like all the tough talk in the speech was just that - talk.

And when the shit hits the fan we'll always cave to right wing demands.

This WH has no sense of timing and a very poor appreciation of image.

[gateley]

15. I think concern about the disruption of New Yorkers' daily lives, plus the $$$, trumps

image.

Sometimes you just gotta do the right thing. Otherwise we're just like them.

And some of us feel it makes Obama look reasonable, flexible, and willing to listen to those whose lives would be affected. He's confident enough to do that.

[annabanana]

22. "disruption of New Yorkers' daily lives"???

Their lives will only be impacted if NYPD goes into hyper-gasp and closes a bunch of streets...

(Have you ever spent time in lower Manhattan?

[gateley]

23. I'm guessing the security would be extensive, plus the press, plus, as they mentioned,

NY may become a magnet for those sympathetic to the cause who would love nothing more than to make a statement with an explosion or two.

Unless you (or I) actually live there, it's impossible to know how they could be inconvenienced -- but THEY'RE the ones who are requesting that it be moved. Plus, if it lasts a long time...

Hell, even navigating around road work is a major pain in the ass.

[annabanana]

33. I don't live down there, but I spend a LOT of time in and out

of ther area. My husband works down there on regular occasions..

If they treated it the same way that they've treated all the other terrorist trials it would be no more disruptive than fashion week or the big apple circus...

[gateley]

36. You may be right, but it's the people who are voicing displeasure you'll have to

convince, not me. :7

I could be wrong, but I'm getting the sense that this one will be BIGGER! - maybe because he's being touted as Numero Uno, or because the Press is making a lot more noise about this one.

Whatever transpires, I hope that if something goes wrong the criticism doesn't fall on Obama - he's really trying to figure out the best solution for a difficult problem.

[msanthrope]

25. Closing the Holland Tunnel (again) will impact people.....

along with the frakin' subways and the bus routes....

That's the security level they were talking about.

[annabanana]

32. hmm . . It wasn't deemed necessary for the FIRST batch of

WTC bombing terrorists...

[The Stranger]

35. Absolute FAIL.

The right thing to do is the enforce the rule of law and hold the trial where the crimes took place. The right to trial is not subject to your (or New Yorkers') convenience.

(Here I am, thinking to myself: Am I really actually having to type this fucking response?)

[alarimer]

38. He is a spineless weasel, clearly.

But I've given up on Obama actually doing the right thing ever.

[conservdem]

40. I doubt the law is so rigid as to require the trial in NYC.

Since one plane crashed in PA, that state/district is probably also a valid option.

[marshall]

30. It shows his dedication to bipartisanship

Working with Republicans doesn't just mean getting them to do it his way. It means cooperating and giving in when the time is right.

[madrchsod]

12. North Dakota!

[WriteDown]

31. The Moon! nt

[tomhayes]

16. Why would this screw up Manhattan exactly???

haven't they had like 10 terror trials in manhattan??

Why would this be different??

[annabanana]

21. It wouldn't... except the overreaction to it might snarl traffic....

buncha dumb crap

[Vinnie From Indy]

17. Mayors of small towns & cities around America should be BIDDING for the trial

I know here in Indiana that the cash inflow from all the media would be an excellent thing. I would have no problem having the trials in Indy. Bring on the media hordes and their expense accounts!

[JDPriestly]

19. Don't they want him tried by a New York jury?

He is going to be convicted no matter where he is tried. I don't understand these people. If they fear terrorist attacks to free him, maybe they should try him in the middle of the desert in some small town in Nevada or up in Alaska out in the middle of nowhere. There are lots of spots in the U.S. where terrorist attacks are virtually impossible. Areas near military bases in Alaska are an example. Very small rural communities that could be massively fortified are another.

[annabanana]

20. Who knew that Bloomberg was a coward.... These are not SUPERMEN, guys...

They aren't "Magic Muslims"..

The poeple objecting are just complaining about what the hoopla might do to the traffic.

[Jefferson23]

24. I would pay to be on that jury..have it near me in Ct.!!!

[FarCenter]

26. Hold it on Riker's Island

[SnakeEyes]

27. Holding it in NYC was appropriate.

The crime happened in NYC so that is where KSM should be tried. It's only fair and right, IMO. I think it also makes a statement. We don't cower to this guy or any of his potential others when justice is concerned. We should do it, as Kennedy once said, "because they are hard."

[Art_from_Ark]

28. Holding a court case at the site of a crime can also bias a jury

But it's all going to be a dog-and-pony show anyway, no matter where it's held.

[SnakeEyes]

29. Can, yes

And if the defense wanted to move it they can file a motion to do so but, in my opinion, it should start in NYC.

[The Stranger]

34. Another defeat for the rule of law.

I have to disagree deeply with virtually everyone on this thread. The right to a trial is not something that the people of New York hold to give to someone. A trial by jury isn't something that is subject to being moved out of inconvenience. The rights of the individual aren't subject to majority vote.

There have been terrorist trials in New York since the early 1990s. Obama was supposed to have the concentration camp in Cuba closed by now, but the Neo-Nazi-Cons shouted him down, and it remains open, an abortion in American constitutional law. Now he has succumbed again.

Hold the fucking trials. Do it, and get it over with. There is this sense that everything is being held up by the Neo-Nazi-Cons and the fascist teabagger groundswell flowering towards its favorite propaganda outlet. Health care seems to be just one of their "victories." Stop consulting with everyone and do the right thing. That is what you were elected to do. Stop running for the hills.

Or we will fail at this most important opportunity.

[alarimer]

37. Coward.

This is bullshit. Fucking stick to your guns but apparently Obama doesn't have any actual principles. Instead he sways with the political winds.

[Lorien]

45. And those winds always seem to blow to the Right. nt

[conservdem]

39. Good, and about time.

[Lost4words]

41. Just another example of dems giving into the whinning of the GOP.

[boppers]

42. Where did we try Micheal Jackson? OJ? Charles Manson?

We've had super-famous trials before, where were they done, and wouldn't those people have more extensive experience with maintaining security in high-profile trials?

[Lorien]

44. Giving into the thumb sucking bed wetter brigade

not good.

[fujiyama]

46. This is reasonable

The logistics itself for holding it in NYC would be maddening and I'm sorry, but this trial doesn't quite compare to others. We're talking about 9/11 - in NYC after all...

It won't matter anyways. This trial is a show and it would have made no difference if they had just given him a military trial.