Majority Say Accused 9/11 Conspirators Should Be Tried in Military Court

2 years ago

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Americans believe by 59 percent to 36 percent that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four accused co-conspirators in planning the Sept. 11 attacks should be tried in a military court and not in a civilian court in New York City as Attorney General Eric Holder has decided, according to a USA Today/Gallup poll conducted Nov. 20-22.

Nearly three-quarters of Republicans and two-thirds of independents hold that view while Democrats support Holder's decision by 51 percent to 43 percent.

Seventy-one percent say it is very likely that Mohammed will be found guilt and another 20 percent say it is somewhat likely, a result that says many Americans don't share the fear voiced by critics that trials are unpredictable and Mohammed could go free.

However, 59 percent do share the concern that Mohammed will be able to use the trial as a platform to publicize his views while 39 percent are not concerned.

Those polled had less objection to the fact that the trial will be held in New York than they did on the military vs. civilian court question. Fifty-one percent believe the trial should be held somewhere else while 42 percent said New York was an acceptable venue.

A Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll in mid-November also found public opinion in favor of using a military tribunal by a somewhat lesser margin of 52 percent to 40 percent.

Filed Under: Terror, Polls, Obama Administration, Poll Watch

Tagged: daily guidance, DailyGuidance, eric holder, EricHolder, sept. 11, Sept.11, Terror trials, TerrorTrials

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