By Marcia Moore
U.S. Rep. Chris Carney is joining the growing number of government leaders opposed to the Obama administration’s efforts to put an alleged terrorist in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on trial in the United States.
Carney, D-10, of Dimock, said Tuesday that he opposes White House intentions to have a U.S.-based court hear the case against Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his alleged involvement in the attacks.
“Khalid Sheikh Mohammed should be tried as an enemy combatant at Guantanamo Bay,” Carney said of the Naval base in Cuba. “He played a central role in the 9/11 attacks on the United States, and his own words proclaiming him a soldier against the West make him a clear enemy combatant. As such, he should be tried at Guantanamo Bay.”
As a former Pentagon intelligence analyst and senior adviser on intelligence and counterterrorism issues, Carney said he understands the situation well.
“As the only member of Congress to have interrogated detainees at Guantanamo Bay, I know full well that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other terror operatives would be provided fair hearings and trying them there would protect our nation from harm,” he said.
Carney said he also opposes any move to imprison terrorists in Pennsylvania.
His comments come on the heels of a backlash to the White House’s plan to bring alleged terrorists before a civilian court in the United States, including opposition from Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell and Rob Gleason, chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party.
“Khalid Sheik Mohammed and his fellow al-Qaida terrorists have already left a deep stain on the history of this country and certainly our commonwealth,” Gleason said. “To afford him the opportunity to once again threaten the security of Western Pennsylvania is simply unacceptable, and our party is ready to do everything in our power to ensure that this ridiculous concept does not come to fruition.”
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