Common Criminals or Prisoners of War??

Throughout the course of this past week sharing the headlines with health care reform was Attorney General Eric Holder's announcement that the 4 masterminds of 911 will be tried in NYC. Much of what I've heard and read is the usual oppositional hot air being blown around by those mostly republicans who would attack absolutely anything coming from the Obama administration. It doesn't matter if the idea is good for the country or not. If it's Obama's idea, fight it! On one hand, I find it interesting that those opposed to having the trial in NYC are the very people who beat their chests around the world, extolling the virtues of the 'American Way', i.e. due process, liberty and justice for all, and a right to a fair trial. Then in pretty much the same breath they seek to ignore those very ideals for the 4 defendants. On the other hand, I do have to wonder how much thought went into the decision to do this. There is absolutely no doubt that these four individuals are self-confessed terrorists. Technically, aren't we at war with terrorist groups? As such shouldn't we have a military tribunal overseeing the whole thing? Why would the Obama administration want to risk a painful, prolonged trial where defense attorneys use all their tricks to lengthen the process and turn it into a mockery? Putting the matter before a military tribunal still gives the defendants the trial they seek but it also prevents a lot of the stuff their lawyers are going to pull. I think in this particular situation, the Obama administration erred. I find it difficult to side with critics of this move because so many of them are such obnoxious jerks, but if nothing else, for the sake of the families of 911 victims, perhaps Holder should back track and think it through a little better. Just a thought.