KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe News Weather, Video - President Obama Predicts Conviction of Professed 9/11 Mastermind
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President Obama is expressing confidence that the professed mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks will be convicted when he's tried in civilian court.
In TV interviews as he wrapped up a trip to China, Obama said those who are offended by the legal privileges being given to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will feel differently "when he's convicted and when the death penalty is applied to him."
Obama quickly added that he's not trying to prejudge the outcome of a trial, saying that's "the job of the prosecutors, the judge and the jury." But he said that the prosecutors in the case specialize in terrorism and have offered assurances that Mohammed will be convicted based on the evidence that's been gathered.
On criticism that trying Mohammed and four other terror suspects in Manhattan would create a security threat, Obama called it a "fundamental mistake" to believe that "these terrorists possess some special powers" that would prevent prosecutors from presenting evidence against them and exacting swift justice.
Obama spoke about the matter in interviews with NBC News and CNN.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
