Schlesinger, Robert. “New York Terrorism Trial Will Show U.S. at its Best.” U.S. News and World Report. U.S News and World Report, 24 November 2009. Web. 26 November 2009 <http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2009/11/24/new-york-terrorism-trial-will-show-us-at-its-best.html>.
Read this magazine
In his article, “New York Terrorism Trial Will Show U.S. at its Best”, Robert Shlesinger voices his support for Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to try Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other suspected terrorists in federal court. He believes that, in order to be a shining example to the rest of the world, the U.S. needs to back up its words with actions. To strengthen his argument, he quotes Woodrow Wilson who spoke about our nation’s mission to make the world “safe for democracy”, Franklin Roosevelt who emphasized the “four freedoms” our nation was founded on, John F. Kennedy who talked about human rights for “friends and foes alike”, and Ronald Reagan who described the U.S. as a ”shining city on a hill.” Schlesinger points out that civilian trials are just one option made available by the Senate’s October vote; the decision about whether to try suspects in civilian courts or military tribunals can be made on a case by case basis. Sclesinger believes that the decision to try KSM and his co-horts in a civilian court is the right one because it places them on the level of “mass murderers” instead of “war criminals” which, in his opinion, keeps them from being elevated as warriors. Finally he quotes President Obama as saying,” The notion that we need to be fearful that these terrorists possess some special powers… I think that has been a fundamental mistake.”
The trial of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and the other terrorists in a New York federal courtroom is a direct result of the Senate’s vote on October 20,2009, so any opinions about it , either in favor or against, are relevant to the question as to whether the Senate made the right decision. Robert Schlesinger’s article is worth reading because it articulates the ideals of he United States and how they relate to the way we treat our prisoners, whether they be common criminals, war criminals or terrorists. The article also addresses some of the concerns people have about the feelings of 9/11 victims’’ family members and other consequences of trying terrorist suspects in civilian courts. Whether one agrees with the Robert Schlsinger’s conclusion or not, his article serves as a good reminder if the values our country adheres to.
