Justice is for everyone. Not just people we like. Not just Americans. Not just people who always follow the law. Part of justice is giving people a trial. It doesn't matter what they did- they get a trial. This goes for terrorists too. Sorry, but I have to say it. It doesn't matter when you stand up when it's easy and say the right thing. It only counts when you stand up and say it when most people don't agree. This is me standing up saying, "The terrorists need to get a trial."
First, the civilian idea. This ranks up with stupidest ideas of the year. Civilian trials involve basic rights- like not incriminating yourself, right to a speedy trial, and probably something about not being water-boarded to get information. I'm not saying the water-boarding was wrong, I'm saying that a civilian trial right now would let them off. You don't choose which rules you want to follow- the Constitution isn't multiple choice. The basic rights given in the American justice system apply to EVERYONE, even people who fly airplanes into buildings.
That leaves us with a military trial. I have no problem with this. Let's do it. Let's get it over with. Line them up against the wall and shoot them, if that is what the verdict is. But you can't just hold them. Some people say "until the war is over." What war? Which one? The one we haven't declared? Any intelligence they have is now far out of date. There is no reason to keep them locked up without a trial any longer.
Each day that we continue to pontificate and deny a basic human right to the terrorists, we are adding a brick to a gigantic monument. Not one that remembers those that died, or one that remembers 9/11. One that spells out in letters large enough to read from space, "Maybe they were right about us."
First, the civilian idea. This ranks up with stupidest ideas of the year. Civilian trials involve basic rights- like not incriminating yourself, right to a speedy trial, and probably something about not being water-boarded to get information. I'm not saying the water-boarding was wrong, I'm saying that a civilian trial right now would let them off. You don't choose which rules you want to follow- the Constitution isn't multiple choice. The basic rights given in the American justice system apply to EVERYONE, even people who fly airplanes into buildings.
That leaves us with a military trial. I have no problem with this. Let's do it. Let's get it over with. Line them up against the wall and shoot them, if that is what the verdict is. But you can't just hold them. Some people say "until the war is over." What war? Which one? The one we haven't declared? Any intelligence they have is now far out of date. There is no reason to keep them locked up without a trial any longer.
Each day that we continue to pontificate and deny a basic human right to the terrorists, we are adding a brick to a gigantic monument. Not one that remembers those that died, or one that remembers 9/11. One that spells out in letters large enough to read from space, "Maybe they were right about us."
