by Tina Grazier

Guantanamo Bay was chosen as the best possible site by the Bush administration for holding and trying terrorists. The site was chosen after careful thought and deliberation that included military and legal experts. The decision to hold civilian trials in New York City was made without careful thought or consultation of those in New York who would be required to deal with safety and security issues. It was made without consideration of the massive costs the trials would impose on the city. Now that decision has proven to be unworkable, will President Obama be willing to swallow his pride and do the right thing regarding the trials of the 911 terrorists? If the stubborn posture displayed at Obama's SOTU is any indication I'd say no, the President would rather swallow battery acid than signal to the world that the Bush administration was right in choosing Guantanamo as the safest place to hold and try terrorists.

An article in the New York Post considers some of his options:

Washington, DC - The trial of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed won't be held in lower Manhattan and could take place in a military tribunal at Guantanamo Bay, sources said last night. Administration officials said that no final decision had been made but that officials of the Department of Justice and the White House were working feverishly to find a venue that would be less expensive and less of a security risk than New York City. ** Other domestic sites mentioned for the trials include a former military base in New York Harbor that welcomes summertime picnickers and bike riders, the US Military Academy at West Point, and Stewart Air National Guard Base in upstate Newburgh. - New York Post

So, where will the trials be held? The former military base in New York Harbor is Gitmo-esque, why not just use Gitmo? West Point and Stewart Air National Guard Base are poor substitutes...again, why not use the place already prepared to cover safety, security and financial concerns, Guantanamo Bay? Washington DC is a ridiculous choice for obvious reasons. Any other large metropolitan area would endanger millions of Americans and require the same massive expeditures. It would seem that all possibilities lead right back to Gitmo. It is, and has been, the most sensible choice all along. It also happens to be the perfect legal choice.