No Presumption of Innocence

It was with regret, disbelief, and bewilderment that I listened to the announcement of the Attorney General. As he explained that the 911 terrorists would be tried in a civil court and that this would show the world the “power of the American judicial system,” I failed to understand the purpose of this trial. There are so many cogent reasons not to do this that it is hard to know where to start. I reject the idea that these men (I use the term loosely) have “civil rights.” They are not citizens of our country, they are not white-collar criminals, they are terrorists. They are soldiers in an army without uniforms. They came here to kill us- it is that simple. So why should you and I spend millions of dollars on this trial (we will, don’t doubt it, it’s called tax money)? Why should the citizens of New York City and New York State carry an even bigger burden? Why should we give these men an open stage and limitless air time to preach hate and murder?
All in all I fail to understand what will be accomplished by this trial- we will waste millions of dollars just to listen to the defendants put America on trial. We will be the villains, we will be the terrorists. I have no doubt that the weak-minded among us will end up apologizing to these killers because we are “the bad guys.” Yes, only in America! This stage show for hatred will be paid for by you and me so that our administration can claim some kind of moral victory. It will be a hollow victory. It is an empty gesture that only shows our hesitancy to protect ourselves and our own self-defeating policies. Is there no common sense left in Washington?
I understand that we can’t appear to have no rule of law. I also understand that there is military law which has now been rejected. All of this has to be viewed by what is perhaps the boldest act of hypocrisy ever; when questioned about the trial members of the government have stated (no, they have promised) that the defendants will be found guilty! If this is the promised outcome- again I ask, why must we suffer through this trial?
Please understand that there is a fact here that should guide our thinking and our judgment. It is a premise of American law that you are innocent until proven guilty. It is one of the things that make our system better than any judicial system that ever existed. But what should we do when there is no presumption of innocence? These men have confessed their crimes with pride and arrogance. There is no need to prove that they are guilty, so why put on the show? We have gone too far in our quest for justice – we try the victims and protect the criminal.
It is time that we learn that justice is a two way street. When there is no possible presumption of guilt what purpose does a trial serve? Think about it.