There was some talk of whether it would be a good idea to seek the death penalty for terrorism suspects, because it could make martyrs of them--perhaps something they would want, something the U.S. should deny them, and something that could provide some gratification, if not a rallying point, to jihadists who support them. But Attorney General Eric Holder said that he will seek the death penalty for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the four other Guantanamo detainees who will be transferred to New York for trial in a federal court for masterminding and helping to carry out the 9/11 attacks:
"We are, as I indicated, seeking the most serious punishment," Holder
said. "I intend to ask for the death penalty when it comes to those
five individuals. That is an indication, I think, of how serious I view
these cases, how negative the consequences of their actions were and
how they must face the ultimate justice," Holder said at a news
conference today.
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2009/11/death-penalty-sought-for-detainees/30145/
