No Terror Trials in Manhattan

Editor's Note: This letter was sent to state Assemblyman Charles Lavine (D-Glen Cove) in response to a recent letter he sent to President Barack Obama about America's support of Israel, and a copy was forwarded to Patch.  

Dear Assemblyman Lavine:

As an Iraq veteran, I strongly oppose your support for trying "our common enemy" as common criminals. Since you publicly expressed your thoughts about this issue in November, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Peter King have said they emphatically oppose terror trials in Manhattan, New York City has faced numerous terrorist threats and the families of 9/11 victims have expressed their outrage. 

I agree with you that we have the "strength" for terror trials— our brave men and women who defend America demonstrate this daily. However, we also have the wisdom to learn from past experiences. Fadil Abdelghani, your former client, and Sheik Omar Abdel Rahman share the same ideology of those who call for our destruction. An appeals court recently upheld the conviction of Lynne Stewart, who represented Rahman, for smuggling messages to her jailed terrorist client. Should we take the same risk with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed? 

In 1942, former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ordered military tribunals for eight Nazi terrorists captured off the coast of Long Island. The Supreme Court upheld Roosevelt's decision to try the Nazis as enemy combatants in Ex parte Quirin. Why didn't you mention this in your comments? 

I urge you to join our other New York elected officials in opposing terror trials in Manhattan. Please consider that at this time New Yorkers should not endure the financial — estimated at more than $200 million per year — and emotional burden of this trial. 

Respectfully submitted,

Robert A. Germino