Obama Invents Bush’s Idea

CNN is reporting that the White House is considering a military trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. WOW! What an inspiration! Why didn’t we think of this before? [face in palm]:

White House advisers are considering recommending alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed be tried in a military court instead of a civilian one in New York City, a senior administration official told CNN on Friday.

It was only a few short months ago that Holder et. al. had announced plans to try KSM in New York. That was not well-received by ANYONE who lives near where the trial would take place…nor anyone else for that matter (save for the “peace at all cost” crowd).

Among the many arguments against such a terrible idea, the issue of huge costs for extra security and the overall cost of even conducting such a trial (which could potentially go on for several years before all was said and done) were the first ones to be quickly discounted by the Administration. Their defense of a public trial was that the American justice system worked just fine thankyouverymuch, and they meant to prove to our enemies that we knew how to play fair.

A lot of us out here believe this animal doesn’t deserve to enjoy the same freedoms as those he successfully plotted to kill on 9/11, and that ALONE should be enough to try him like every other enemy of the State. It would be nice to think Obama finally came around to our way of thinking on this topic. Sadly, his motivation is solely in deference to the “bottom line”:

New York police have estimated the cost to the city would exceed $200 million per year in a trial that could last years. They have said, among other things, that they would need to install more than 2,000 checkpoints in Lower Manhattan.
[snip]
White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said Friday the administration was evaluating its options “based on New York City logistical and security concerns.”

The WH has obviously gotten the message. We’ll fight the battle over who deserves American civil justice another day. For now, at least, Manhattan has been spared.