Somerset Daily American editorial on KSM trial

Somerset Daily American

2/2/10

"Keep him in Cuba"

It will soon be nine years since terrorists attacked the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Now the United States is preparing to try one of the suspects in court. The only question is where should the trial be held. The Obama administration is setting aside $200 million to help a city host the trial for one of the Sept. 11, 2001, masterminds, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The Department of Justice set guidelines that the trial must be held in one of the three locations where a Sept. 11, 2001, crime occurred. That would be New York, Shanksville or Arlington, Va., where the Pentagon is located. New York officials have already asked that the trial not be held there. Local officials are opposed to holding the trial of a terrorism suspect in western Pennsylvania. If the trial would be assigned to the western district court in Johnstown, another federal judge would have to hear the case as Judge Kim R. Gibson was the co-chairman of the Flight 93 Task Force and would probably recuse himself from hearing the case. It could also be moved to Pittsburgh or Erie, both of which are in the western district. U.S. Rep. Bill Shuster, R- Hollidaysburg and Somerset, has the right idea. He said the trial should be held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where Mohammed is being held. Shuster is right. There’s no need for $200 million to be spent on a trial in a city near the attacks. For the city hosting the trial, businesses will suffer from all of the security concerns. Also who’s to say the international terrrorist cells won’t plan an attack on the courthouse where the proceedings will be held? Having the trial in our area will hurt the local economy as well as possibly create safety concerns for U.S. citizens. The suspected terrorist is in a place where American’s won’t be harmed. It makes sense for the trial to be held there without the influences of the outside world. It would be much more cost effective to have a U.S. judge and jury travel to Cuba. The island that includes Gitmo is a good place to keep terrorists from causing more stress and loss of life to Americans.

Shuster reacts to news that KSM could be tried in Johnstown

Congressman Bill Shuster (R-PA09) released the following statement upon learning of reports that the Justice Department may be considering western Pennsylvania and Johnstown in particular as an alternate location for the trial of Khalid Sheik Mohammed:

“I will strongly oppose any decision that will have the mastermind of the September 11th attacks housed in our backyard in Johnstown or anywhere else in western Pennsylvania.

From the start, the decision by the Obama Administration to move Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four of his conspirators into the United States for trial in federal civilian court was shortsighted and dangerous.

Congress put military commissions in place to avoid the very situation the White House is scrambling to deal with now. Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his cohorts are foreign enemy combatants who should not be granted the legal rights American citizens enjoy. Nor should the American people and the residents of Johnstown be forced to have their tax dollars pay for their defense of these terrorists or their presence in our communities.”