QUOTE OF THE DAY - AT 9:08 A.M. ET:  From Dick Morris: 

As he flew to Asia on Saturday, President Obama told the media in Alaska that he opposes a congressional investigation into the Fort Hood massacre, saying that we must "resist the temptation to turn this tragic event into political theater." Yet, even as he was posturing against political theatrics, he had just decided that the prosecution of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would proceed on the greatest of public stages -- New York City.

That's exactly right.  Obama has made scores of mistakes since taking office, but the decision to try Mohammed in New York City has struck a particular chord.  For the first time we can truly say, and prove, that the president of the United States is placing American civilians at risk.

And for what?  To show off our justice system to the world?  I doubt it.  I suspect the motives are far more political.

A federal court is an institution, not a building.  A federal court can be established in a grocery store, if need be.  It would have been comparatively simple to try Mohammed in a court established on a military base, where severe security can be maintained.  Instead, the trial will take place in a populated area, a few blocks from City Hall, Ground Zero, a few colleges, Wall Street, and major bridges.  Brilliant.

It is not political theater itself to which Obama objects -- but theater that highlights issues that liberals would rather forget. He is quite content to let the Mohammed trial become the theater of the left. Perhaps even eager.

That is correct.

The Obama administration has a clear agenda here:

1) Stop people from focusing in how his administration permitted the worst domestic terror attack in eight years.

2) Avoid a national airing of how liberal policies -- restraints on the intelligence community, political correctness in the armed forces -- might have inhibited the military from reining in Hasan.

3) Re-ignite a firestorm on the left and abroad against the aggressive anti-terror policies of the Bush administration.
Making all this particularly important for Obama are his other political needs.

As he likely decides to send more troops to Afghanistan and eyes abandoning the "public option" to secure Senate passage of his health-care plan, Obama has to rebuild his credibility on the left. A public circus that focuses on waterboarding and interrogations could be just what he wants and needs.

Even if it means putting Americans at risk, and placing our security in the hands of a New York jury, which may well be selected the way the O.J. Simpson jury was selected.

Despicable.

November 16,  2009