Henican: Military tribunal or civil court for terror suspects?

For months now, Bill O'Reilly, a dedicated reader of this column, has been beating the drum loudly in favor of military tribunals for terror suspects.

He seems to believe that Guantánamo Bay has been a smashing success for America - not a propaganda bonanza for our enemies.

VOTE: Where should the terror trials be held?

He's clearly forgotten the couple of hundred terrorists tried, convicted and sentenced (to death even) in federal court, most of them in the Bush years. What a beacon of American justice around the world! On Fox the other night, I pointed out these facts, of course. But Mr. O kept dreaming up reasons we can sidestep the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth amendments to the U.S. Constitution when it comes to this one crime.

"Justice is never popular," I reminded him. "Sometimes it's even expensive. But in our system, we don't put it to a vote, my friend. Sometimes the most popular thing is a lynch mob in the town square. And we don't do that either."

He did not sound moved.

"Do a poll among Long Island readers," he pleaded, "the seven who read your column . . . Would you prefer a military tribunal for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his thugs - or civilian court?"

I corrected him on his math - "more like 7 million" - and I agreed to hold my finger in the LI breeze. The truth is, I don't care how the results come out. Popular isn't always right. Someone will always toss a principle out the window in a big emotional case. Principles are easy when they're easy, not so easy when they're not.

But take the poll by clicking here if you care to. Who knows, Bill O'Reilly. We might both be surprised.

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E-mail ellis@henican.com

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