The
feds may still try
the 9/11 terror
thugs near Ground
Zero, President
Obama said
yesterday, shocking
critics.
"I have not ruled it
out, but I think
it's important for
us to take into
account the
practical,
logistical issues
involved," Obama
told CBS News anchor
Katie Couric.
"I mean, if you have
a city that is
saying no, and a
police department
that is saying no,
and a mayor that is
saying no, that
makes it difficult,"
Obama acknowledged.
The White House
asked Attorney
General Eric Holder
late last month to
look for
alternatives to a
trial in Manhattan
Federal Court.
Local opposition
stiffened as it
became clear the
trial could be a
billion-dollar
nightmare - and it
galvanized again in
reaction to Obama's
new comments.
"Based on the
security, logistical
and cost concerns
raised by the mayor
and the police
commissioner, it is
not feasible to have
the trials in New
York. The
administration
should realize that
and move on," said
Sen. Chuck Schumer
(D-N.Y.).
Rep. Pete King
(R-L.I.) said the
answer is to give up
altogether on the
plan for a trial in
a civilian court and
choose military
justice.
"Bottom line is the
9/11 trials do not
belong in New York;
they belong in
Guantanamo," King
said. "The KSM
[Khalid Shaikh
Mohammed] trial
would put New York
at unnecessary risk.
We have already
endured enough."
Critics have said
the trial would
saddle the city with
$200 million
inannual security
costs for up to
fiveyears and would
disrupt a
vitalcommercial and
residential district
still rebuilding
from thehorrors of
9/11.
Holder is carefully
reviewing the
Justice Department's
options, but a
secure alternative
site to try Sept. 11
mastermind Mohammed
and his four
co-defendants isn't
easy to come by,
administration
officials have said.
There are logistical
issues to be
considered,
including the
security and cost
concerns raised by
Mayor Bloomberg and
Police Commissioner
Raymond Kelly, but
also finding a site
convenient enough
for victims'
families and local
witnesses, sources
said.
Julie Menin, the
chairwoman of lower
Manhattan's
Community Board 1,
said Obama needs to
say where he stands
on the issue once
and for all.
The President
"should
unequivocally state
that he will not
hold these trials in
New York City and
then figure out
where they're going
to move the trial,"
she said.
With Erin Einhorn
