Holder lauds NYC terror conviction of Abu Ghaith

Attorney General Eric Holder made a cameo appearance a block from federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday to argue that last week's conviction of former al-Qaida spokesman Suleiman abu Ghaith "put to rest" the debate over trying terrorists in civilian courts.

"This should put to rest this long debate we have had," Holder said at a news conference after congratulating the prosecutors who won the case. "Whoever doubted that the judicial system was equal to this task, let them look to this trial."

The remarks echoed a statement last week by Holder, who spearheaded the Obama administration's plan in 2009 to bring Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and other al-Qaida figures from the Guantánamo military prison to New York for trial.

The administration backed down amid a firestorm of political criticism and security concerns from city officials. Holder said yesterdayTuesday he wouldn't revisit the Mohammed case, but said the slow pace of military commissions showed he had been right.

Holder's rhetoric about putting the debate to rest is mostly wishful thinking.

Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford), a member of the House Homeland Security Committee who favors military jurisdiction in foreign terrorist cases, said Holder was "consumed" by the issue but the Abu Ghaith verdict won't change opponents' views.

"As a matter of principle, I don't believe a terrorist captured overseas is entitled to constitutional rights," said King.

Abu Ghaith, a son-in-law of Osama bin Laden who appeared in a notorious Sept. 12 video with the al-Qaida leader, was convicted last week of conspiring to kill Americans and to give material support to al-Qaida by making recruitment tapes in the wake of Sept. 11.

He faces up to life in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Sept. 8.