President's Decision To Try 9/11 Mastermind In New York Makes Americans Less Safe

Statement

Congressman Wally Herger (R-CA), today criticized President Obama's decision to bring the self-confessed mastermind of the September 11th terrorist attacks on the United States to New York City for trial in civilian court. Herger argued that this move indicates that President Obama views the events of September 11th as a criminal act instead of an act of war. His remarks follow below:

"I believe President Obama's decision to bring Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, a man who plotted the deaths of thousands of Americans, to the United States for criminal trial is a return to the Clinton-era mindset of treating terrorism as a crime and not an act of war. This attitude contributed directly to our lax security that made 9/11 possible. It shows a dangerous misunderstanding of the conflict we find ourselves in. By allowing these terrorists to be tried in New York City, the President has put the people of New York at risk and has undermined the legitimacy of the war tribunals.

"Just recently the President signed a defense bill into law that updated the military commissions process in order to protect classified information while providing detainees general due process rights. Three week later he has chosen to ignore that process in favor of a domestic trial system that could very well compromise important intelligence. This irresponsible action does nothing to make our nation and its citizens safer. Throughout this year, President Obama has naively attempted again and again to bring terrorists from Guantanamo Bay to the United States without a plan that considers the potential risks of doing so. These men committed heinous acts of violence that violated laws of war and therefore should be tried as war criminals. I strongly oppose President Obama's decision and will work with Members of Congress to block terrorists from being tried on our soil."

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