Why not a trial for terrorists?

I’ve read through a lot of the give and take over the decision to try Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York City and I have to admit, I’m still baffled.

Why is it even a question whether or not terrorists should be brought to trial? And why is Rudy Giuliani, a former Federal prosecutor, opposed to the idea?

America’s criminal justice system represents one of the highest and strongest ideals of our democracy.

Even the worst of the worst are granted their day in court.

As a society, we share the facts of the case. We educate ourselves about the motives and the horror behind the crime; and we collaborate in the punishment meted out.

Some critics have suggested that in this case justice should be handled in a military court setting. I couldn’t disagree more.

The US military is already bearing a large enough burden in the post 9/11 world. Frankly, we have too often taken the easy way out since that terrible day.

Rather than think and deliberate and search for the most effective strategy for protecting America’s people, we have simply handed over task after task to our service men and women.

This represents a failure of our civilian leadership and of our collective courage as a people. A potentially dangerous one.

The truth is that it’s time for a collective re-examination of many of the concepts that shaped the current ‘war on terror.’

It’s time to rethink what has been primarily a military strategy for combating terrorism.

Some will argue that thinking, re-evaluating, debating is unacceptable — a sign of weakness, un-American.

But that old dodge is wearing thin. In fact, the US military has already begun its own internal review of the mistakes made over the last eight years.

Hopefully this trial will be a first sign that America’s civil institutions are also regaining confidence.

At our best, we are a society of laws and institutions. We are a culture where the “hang ’em high” mentality expressed this week by former governor Sara Palin is tempered by respect for such principles as habeas corpus and due process.

In the end, I have little doubt but that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will be found guilty and condemned to die.

How we reach that goal will say as much about us as it says about him.