As the former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, I am greatly concerned about the Obama Administration's decision to try the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks on our nation, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and fellow terrorists in American civilian courts.  Those attacks, which claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 Americans, were acts of war.  The perpetrators should be tried as war criminals before military tribunals, not afforded Constitutional rights reserved for American citizens.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to prosecute these terrorists in civil court would provide Khalid Sheikh Mohammed -- an enemy combatant leader -- with the same legal rights and protections provided to American citizens.  Trying these individuals in civilian court gives them unnecessary access to investigative information and the capacity to try to suppress legitimate evidence that will be used asgainst them. 

In attempting to justify civil trials for these terrorists, Attorney General Holder has called the 9/11 attacks a "violation of federal law" and "extraordinary crimes."  No.  These were acts of war by an enemy intent on destroying our way of life.

I'm asking you to join with me in calling for the Administration to reverse its greatly misguided decision to prosecute these war criminals in civilian court.  Will you take a moment to sign the petition and send a message?

--Pat Meehan