White House advisers are reportedly ready to recommend a major policy reversal regarding the trial of admitted 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed and four of his accomplices. Instead of following Attorney General Eric Holder's plan to try the terrorists in a New York City civilian court, advisers are nearing a recommendation for President Barack Obama to choose a military trial. (source)

Continued...

Why the switch? There are plenty of good reasons: Public opinion has been strongly against civilian trials since the day Mr. Holder announced his plan. New York City officials have puplicly stated the trial would be too expensive and a security nightmare. Members of Congress from both parties have supported proposed legislation in both the House and the Senate to prohibit the administration from putting terrorists on trial in any American community.

But the most likely reason for the reversal coming at this particular point in time is that administration officials have been negotiating with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), a vocal critic of civilian trials for terrorists, to strike a deal that would secure his help in closing the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay and replace it with a facility within the United States. While no firm deal has been struck, a White House official said the talks with Senator Graham have been mostly about "limited issues" involving the Mohammed trial and the future of Guantanamo. (source)

So if there is to be a reversal, it probably won't be because President Obama suddenly realizes that admitted terrorists do not deserve a public forum in which to spew their anti-American rants. It also won't happen because it's what the majority of the American people want or because it's the safest decision for the people of New York. No, if it will happen it will be to serve the president's political agenda. Even belatedly keeping his promise made to the far left that he would close Gitmo is what is important enough to finally get him to make the right decision.

Ironically this likely reversal may not do him any political good with his base. American Civil Liberties Union Anthony D. Romero said of the anticipated turnaround, "If this stunning reversal comes to pass, President Obama will deal a death blow to his own Justice Department, not to mention American values. Even with recent improvements, the military commissions system is incapable of handling complicated terrorism cases and achieving reliable results. President Obama must not cave in to political pressure and fear-mongering. He should hold firm and keep these prosecutions in federal court, where they belong." (source)

Looks like you can't please some of the people any of the time.