FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
A change of heart at the White House - which is now considering moving the 9/11 terror trials away from New York City.
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/01/29/art.khalid.jpg caption="Alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is among those suspects set to face a trial in a civilian criminal court."]
This about-face comes after New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, along with other state and city politicians, yelled long and loud about trying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four of his fellow dirtbags at a courthouse near Ground Zero. Which was an idea that made absolutely no sense from the beginning.
New York is worried about the costs - about $200 million a year - for a trial that could last years... plus the general disruption to life in lower Manhattan. It's estimated they would need more than 2,000 security checkpoints set up - along with additional protection in other parts of the city. How stupid is our federal government?
The feds said they would reimburse New York for its costs, but what about business owners who could be driven out of business by this circus?
There are better ideas... almost anywhere is a better idea than New York City. These include the Military Academy at West Point or a military base in upstate New York.
This fierce opposition to the plan to hold those trials here in Manhattan caught the justice department off guard (There's a surprise). Washington? Tone deaf?
Nah....
Now, one law enforcement official tells the New York Daily News, "it's like a half-baked soufflé - the plan is collapsing."
Good.
Here’s my question to you: Where should the trials of the 9/11 terror suspects be held?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Zach from Washington writes:
Trick question. They should have been dealt with in a similar fashion to how FDR dealt with German spies that landed on our shores: interrogated and killed them before the Supreme Court knew anything about it.
Dan from Horseheads, New York writes:
Military court. Why give terrorists the rights of Americans? They deserve to be hung, that's all they deserve! Also, I live in upstate New York and I don't want them in my backyard, let alone this wonderful country!
Howard writes:
I am a criminologist who has visited prisons and court rooms internationally and Germany has the model we should use. They have a terrorist court located in a small town with a secure court room (bomb proof etc.) with translation machines and secure cells with secure tunnels for transporting back and forth to court and cells. So, build one in a rural area that needs some economic development. We will need to use it again.
Elaine writes:
Where the crime took place. It doesn't have to be in downtown Manhattan, but at least New York. Give the people of New York a chance to do their duty.
Frederic from Chicago writes:
Jack, These are the same "dirt bags" that have already cost America tons of money and grief. Why impose more costs and hardships on the people of New York? Especially in this economic climate, the trial should be held where it costs least, a military court.
Jackie writes:
Gitmo. They are already there.
Janice writes:
There is only one reasonable place for this trial, the Arctic. If it’s not available, then perhaps the Antarctic.
Stephen writes:
Announce their release and drop them off at Times Square. I think New York will take care of the rest.