Media Spectacle Preview: 9/11 Conspirators To Be Tried In NYC

An editorial in today’s NY Post argues that we should have just lined the accused up and executed them years ago, though it’s interesting that this is a solution offered only during the Obama adminstration.

Another issue that best exemplifies both sides of this debate, and particularly the announcement that the trial will take place in New York City, is the notion of security. Critics of Guantanamo’s closure believe that bringing such high-value targets to America, and in this case lower Manhattan, invites some sort of attack or attempt to spring the accussed from custody. Others believe that narrative is the stuff of Jerry Bruckheimer films.

This argument was exemplified Friday, when Greg Mitchell of Editor & Publisher tweeted a sarcastic message in reference to the above security complaints. “New Yorkers happy to host trial of 9/11 mastermind: Unlike wimps in heartland who tremble at thought of any minor Gitmo-ite coming to town,” he wrote. Conservative website NewsBusters responded that New York pride “doesn’t negate legitimate security concerns any local official would have about how holding a terrorist suspect in his jail would instantly make that facility a target of terrorists who may wish to attempt a jail break and/or terror attack.”

“You’d think right-wingers would WANT New Yorkers–still mad about 9/11–to decide fate of the bad guys,” Mitchell commented later.

The trial will happen and it will be the trial of the young century. But because everyone seems to believe that these men are guilty, how are they going to receive a fair trial? A jury of peers? Unbiased and unprejiduced? How can anybody in the New York region not know of this story? And because of these questions, how much of this trial has been pre-negotiated? These are just the beginning of the questions the media will be forced to tackle in the coming days and weeks.

All we know is that you should get ready for lots of airtime.