Have they lost their minds?

Earlier today I listened to Attorney General Holder's opening remarks during his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Mr Holder was absolutely eloquent in his explanation of how he came to the decision to bring the 9/11 conspirators to trial in New York City. "These are cases that have to be won," Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee. "I'm not scared of what Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would say at trial, and no one else needs to be afraid, either. I know we are at war. We need not cower in the face of the enemy. No more delay. It is past time to finally act."

The problem comes in comparing bringing these conspirators to trial in a civilian court with bringing the Blind Sheik to trial after the 1993 WTC bombings. In 1993 the case was handled, soup to nuts, as a criminal matter. That includes rules of evidence and the proper handling of the purported criminals.

From the start of the search for the 9/11 conspirators it was handled as a military effort with different rules of evidence and no requirement to mirandize any suspects. Since things were handled so differently how can we not be concerned that vital evidence, collected in appropriate method by the military, will not be tossed out on a technicality? The proper way to handle these individuals at this point is using a military tribunal, who's rules of evidence have been followed as well as their rules for handling these war criminals. To do any less is to chance their release on a technicality that no one wants to see, or do they? There is a difference, Mr. Holder, between cowering and being concerned by someone acting irresponsibly. Especially when they hold your family's safety in their hands.