The Right's Cowardice Over Justice for KSM

With news that alleged "9/11 mastermind" will face criminal trial in New York, the right has decided that now would be a good time to freak the fuck out. Speaking for the institutional right, House minority leader John Boehner called this an "irresponsible decision" that "puts the interests of liberal special interest groups before the safety and security of the American people." Boehner worries that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed "could be found 'not guilty' due to some legal technicality just blocks from Ground Zero..."

Way to believe in America, John.

Steve Benen comes out and basically calls this what I've always called it -- cowardice and kneejerk reactionism. "I've simply never understood the right's weak-kneed panic over the U.S. justice system," he writes. "From what I gather, the case against Khalid Shaikh Mohammed should be pretty easy to make in court, and securing a conviction is likely to be pretty easy. By giving this suspected monster a fair trial, we can prove to the world the strength of American values and the integrity of the American system. Shouldn't Cheney, Giuliani, and the rest of the motley crew who'll spend the day whining on Fox News want a trial for KSM?"

Of course, we're forgetting that Mohammed's a supervillain like Lexx Luthor and it's a sure bet he'll manage to build a proton cannon or a robot army and bust out of jail. Al Qaeda guys are like magic or something and the only thing that can hold them is a chainlink fence in Gitmo.

Remember, if you aren't pissing yourself in an absolute panic that a criminal might be treated like a criminal, you aren't a real American.