Indecision The Hallmark Of The Obama Administration
In a scene eerily reminiscent of the troop level decision in Afghanistan, the Obama administration cannot come to terms with choosing a venue for the terror trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, or the type of court he should be tried in, criminal or military. The Attorney General Eric Holder had originally made the decision of criminal court in lower Manhattan, but a firestorm of criticism that began after Mayor Bloomberg switched positions to oppose this has made the President vacillate.
Homeland Security A Political Football?
Yesterday both Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Eric Holder did not rule out the potential for a military trial versus a criminal trial. What does this inability to come to an informed decision in the first place say about those in charge? What does the inability to stand firm in the decision made regardless of opposition say to the rest of the world in terms of the resolve of the President?
Robert Gibbs, in explaining why the President is inserting himself into the process had this to say:
"Obviously there are efforts on Capitol Hill through legislation to restrict either the type of or the venue of a trial for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-conspirators. That, by definition, involves the White House and ultimately the president."
"So, since this effort has moved from strictly a Justice Department decision to something that's in the legislative arena, the White House — and by definition the president — are involved."
Finally, Holder had this to say:
"At the end of the day, wherever this case is tried, in whatever forum, what we have to ensure is that it's done as transparently as possible and with adherence to all the rules. If we do that, I'm not sure the location or even the forum is as important as what the world sees in that proceeding."
What the world sees is definitely a concern. Not only regarding this trial, but in the way national security decisions are handled. These decisions are not political footballs used to pander to a liberal base, but the game of life used to execute the primary responsibility of the White House, protecting the people of the United States!
Photo courtesy of Joy Eerickson
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