Utility Menu

Search Section

No civilian trial-- in New York or anywhere

National Review | Jan 31, 2010
By Andrew McCarthy

Reality has yet again dragged the Obama administration, kicking and screaming, toward a more sensible policy.  Like the decision to close Gitmo, which was announced without regard for the imperative of detaining committed jihadists, the decision to hold civilian trials for alien enemy combatants was made without regard for security, costs, the prospect of surrenderring national defense information to the enemy during wartime, or the betrayal of humanitarian law caused by rewarding the worst war criminals with gold-plated due process. Not holding the civilian trial in New York City is a good thing.  Not holding a civilian trial at all would be a far better thing. Since we have not made provisions for a national-seucirty court to deal with the novel challenge of international terrorism, wartime alien enemy combatants should be tried by military commission in the safety of Guantanamo Bay - which is what it was built for, at great expense to the American taxpayer.

 

Posted originally at The Corner

The Center's Publications

Frank Gaffney's Policy Decision Briefs are released weekly and sent directly to policy makers, coallitions, and the media for immediate action. Mr. Gaffney's weekly column is printed in The Washington Times on Tuesdays, and is also available at Townhall.com, Jewish World Review, and other websites.

Several times per week, the Center issues National Security Forum papers to inform and enliven the debate on issues vital to our national security.

The Americas Report is the featured product of the Center's Menges Hemispheric Security Project. Published weekly, it features in-depth, original articles on subjects not regularly covered by the American press.

The Center's Occasional Paper Series is an instrument for quick publication and dissemination of original research by CSP research staff and associates and the national security research and policy community beyond that.

While most of the Center's work is done behind the scenes, it does from time to time issue Press Releases on significant accomplishments, noteworthy events, or to set the record straight as a matter of public record.

Featured Expert

Benjamin E. Lerner

Mr. Lerner manages coalitions and projects concerning law and security and assists the President and Center leadership with the research and drafting of policy publications.  Prior to joining the Center, Mr. Lerner served as counsel on energy, environment, and homeland security issues for a government relations firm, held a senior government relations role for a foreign affairs advocacy organization, gained experience in both the House and Senate, and served as a senior advisor on a congressional campaign.  He holds a law degree from Georgetown University, and received his bachelor's degree in political science, with highest distinction, from the University of Michigan.