No, sadly this is not a joke.
President Obama's advisers are nearing a recommendation that Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, be prosecuted in a military tribunal, administration officials said, a step that would reverse Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s plan to try him in civilian court in New York City.
I am absolutely flabbergasted by this. Are there any ideals that we haven't traded away? This makes me physically ill.
The president's advisers feel increasingly hemmed in by bipartisan opposition to a federal trial in New York and demands, mainly from Republicans, that Mohammed and his accused co-conspirators remain under military jurisdiction, officials said. While Obama has favored trying some terrorism suspects in civilian courts as a symbol of U.S. commitment to the rule of law, critics have said military tribunals are the appropriate venue for those accused of attacking the United States.
So Bush was right? Is that what we're being force-fed? Can I puke now?
Privately, administration officials are bracing for the ire of disappointed liberals and even some government lawyers should the administration back away from promises to use civilian courts to adjudicate the cases of some of the 188 detainees who remain at Guantanamo.
Man...
This is bad. This is very very bad.
I've written comment after comment, only to delete it and try again. I just don't know what to say.
I would cry, if I had any tears left.
Is this it? Is our democracy dead?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Anyway, I'm heading to work. I'll be back on in an hour to reply to comments.
UPDATE: Im sorry I'm not commenting anymore, but I can't, as there are two or three HR abusers who HR anything I say. And I don't want to lose my ability to post diaries.
Suffice it to say, that after checking around a bit, this looks like it is really happening. I still have hopes that it is only a trial balloon, but I think the failed "civilian trial" balloon illustrates that Obama is now backed into a corner and military tribunals are his last hole card.
To those of you who commented fairly (even those who disagree with me) I salute you. To the fascist HR abusers, you don't deserve to even breathe the air of DKOS. You little Cheneys need to go join Red State.