Jury’s In-NYC Terror Trial Naive and Dangerous
My jury’s in. Holding civilian court trials in New York City for terrorists (save the “alleged” for someone who just crawled out of a cave, or out from under a rock) is both mind-bogglingly naive and dangerous.
We’ve heard from the pundits with Ph.D’s and we’ve heard from the politicos with ADD. We’ve heard from the talking heads on both sides of the radio aisle, the extremists on the radio dial. Some of them are right for the wrong reasons; some of them of just plain wrong. None of them are exhibiting an ounce of common sense, or any empathy for New York metropolitan area citizens who went through a massive collective trauma once, and are about to find bits and pieces of their nightmare reawakened.
Let’s deal with the naivete first. The only possible motive the administration and its Justice Department could have would be to show the world, and particularly the Muslim world, that we make available to even the lowest of the low a forum for justice, for due process, for self defense. No kangaroo courts here, no hanging ‘em high before a hearing.
Well, guess what? They don’t give a damn. We are putting on a display that fits our concepts and notions, concepts and notions that, in the minds of fundamentalist Muslims, doesn’t matter a whit. This is nothing but bad theatre that’s impervious to the sensibilities of the audience it’s trying to appeal to. A narcissistic show of high minded nonsense, in the face of cultural differences that scream out that what matters to us, doesn’t have a corresponding iota of import in the mindset of the terrorists and their supporters.
Now let’s deal with the danger. As was pointed out to me yesterday by a former US Attorney from NYC, New York and the surrounding area is always going to have a target on its back for obvious reasons. Population density, cultural and symbolic import, financial center, and on and on. What’s best about democracy and capitalism is exemplified by NYC (and yes, I’m aware that what’s worst about capitalism lives in the neighborhood as well).
Now that target has gotten bigger and brighter.
And for a culture that believes that a hedonistic afterlife awaits following a righteous fireball of death and destruction, having their own leaders be victims of a new attack would just be another badge of honor for their despicable heroes.
Yes, I’ve seen and heard the media trot out a few family members of 9/11 victims, saying they want to be here to see justice done. My heart goes out to them, and that’s not lip service, but this is one time when closure and sympathy take a back seat to current conditions.
Here’s what everyone I’ve read, watched, or listened to has missed. Every New Yorker has a personal recollection of 9/11 and the days, weeks, and months, that followed. Time and resiliency have allowed us, with some exceptions, to go back to our daily lives and obligations. But yesterday I was reminded of the Thursday night following the downing of the Towers, when I went to the all night drugstore at midnight, when it wasn’t clear which direction the toxic debris cloud was going to be moving, because the manager said he’d be getting in a new delivery of surgical masks. And I wasn’t a lone nut case, I was one of around 50 people at that store alone, as others were gathered at other stores around town, waiting patiently and civilly, for a little extra protection for ourselves and our families, whether that protection was real or imagined. It was hard to tell at the time, but when your world’s been turned upside down, only a fool doesn’t err on the side of caution.
Our liberals have their heads soooo high up in the clouds that they have no idea what’s going on down here at ground level, either in terms of physical danger or a reopening of psychological wounds . And the right wingers have conveniently and opportunistically latched on to the correct conclusion because it gives more fuel to their Obama bashing engine.
Is some of the above an emotional reaction? Damn straight it is. When you and your loved ones are attacked, do you want to be put in harm’s way again, and have fears and phobias that have eased with the passing of time be brought back to the forefront of your consciousness? Didn’t think so.
And everyone, everyone we look to for direction misses the point. So we, as Americans, have nothing but our inner compasses to guide us, because our authority figures are clueless.
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Article is dumb but stupid.
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As always, a well thought out argument. I think you’ve done a great job with “Nay” argument – all valid points.
Then again, if we live in terror, then, pardon the use of an overused phrase, the terrorists win.
If we can not hold enemies accountable for their crimes in the appropriate jurisdiction because we are afraid, then maybe we do not quite live as free as we think we do.
This is a tough one to be sure –
As to Fox – I can just imagine the outcry if the Administration had decided to hold the trial a Gitmo. No doubt they would have lead every news story with how the Obama Administration failed to give America the chance to bring this to a closure.
hey Mike. thanks much for your thoughts. here are 2 of mine in response:
1. NYC’s residents and workers have been mighty resilient in the face of bag checks and metal detectors at sporting events and mass transit venues, among other precautions that we’ve accepted. The city is as vibrant as one can expect it to be in the midst of the economic mayhem we’re going through. However, rubbing salt in a partially healed wound isn’t therapeutic to the most resilient of spirits. If my kid was just about getting over a traumatic experience, I wouldn’t make him climb back on the horse unless I deemed him ready, and I certainly wouldn’t let a stranger make that decision. It was a thoughtless, presumptuous mood. As you can tell, I have no strong feelings about this.
2. Love your Fox spin. Points out that they provide us with The Emperor’s New Fair and Balanced.
Definitely agree that NYC is NOT the place to hold the trials.
But, the trials must be held – pick a place.
We saw such disregard for the law under the previous administration and we see such blatant finagling by the rich and powerful to avoid the law, that a message must be sent that we are still a nation that believes in the law. Not for the rest of the world, but for ourselves.