Don’t apologize, Mr. President. You were right the first time.
“I don’t think that it will be offen sive at all when he’s convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him.”
That’s what President Obama had to say yesterday about Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to try 9/11 kingpin Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four confederates in a US court in New York City — and about the resulting public uproar.
The remark generated a fair amount of tongue-clucking, and Obama quickly qualified his words.
But he really shouldn’t have — for when he’s right, he’s right.
Sure, a very strong case can be made for not putting terrorists captured on the battlefield on trial as civilians. America is at war, after all, and hauling Islamist terrorists into criminal court may not be seen as the best way to fight it.
But Obama’s Justice Department has made a contrary decision, and that ends the discussion.
And now it’s time to concentrate on slipping a needle into KSM’s arm — just like the president said.
There’s much to be said, too, for starting the process right here at the scene of the crime — in a federal courthouse just a brisk stroll from Ground Zero.
Of course there are risks attending such a move.
For certain, there will be much plotting afoot in the jihadist fever swamps, aimed at hauling the process up short. And who knows — the Islamists could get lucky.
Plus, there’s always the danger of KSM & Co. getting a walk on procedural grounds. Indeed, the criticism Obama received for his remark came essentially on the grounds that he was polluting the jury pool.
What nonsense.
KSM and his comrades had already offered to plead guilty before military tribunals — and even to accept the death penalty in return. They dirtied up their own pool, it seems to us.
And while it’s now impossible to know the details of the feds’ case, it’s equally hard to believe that it isn’t strong enough to survive technical challenges.
For whatever else Obama and Holder may be, stupid they are not.
A botched prosecution against the architect of 9/11 would shatter this presidency — and they understand that.
Then there is the matter of justice.
Khalid Sheik Mohammed, as an agent of Osama bin Laden, killed almost 3,000 people on 9/11 — eight long years ago.
It’s time for his needle.
Let the process begin.