Zarate: U.S. Trial For Gitmo Detainees "Appropriate"

Watch CBS News Videos Online

CBS News National Security Analyst Juan Zarate said on "Washington Unplugged" Friday that trying Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other Guantanamo Bay detainees in U.S. civilian courts was "an important decision, and appropriate."

"I think these are defendants that can be prosecuted, will be prosecuted," he said, adding: "This is a good set of defendants to put into the criminal legal system."

Host Bob Schieffer noted that the decision is already drawing strong criticism from people like New York Republican Rep. Peter King, who says the decision to hold the trial in New York City makes it a terrorist target.

"Well, I think security is always an issue with these cases," said Zarate. "But I think New York has handled big time cases before, dating back to the '93 World Trade Center case, and I think they know how to handle it."

"New York's at the top of the list for Al-Qaeda anyway, so I'm not sure that this necessarily ups the ante that much," he added.

Watch the entire conversation above. Also on Friday's show are interviews with Maggie Mahar, author of "Money Driven Medicine," and Claire Danes, Zac Efron and Richard Linklater of the film "Me and Orson Wells."

"Washington Unplugged" appears live on CBSNews.com each weekday at 12:30 p.m. ET. Click here to check out previous episodes.

[GeezOhReally]

These guys have already plead guilty. Why are they being given the rights of US citizens. They are terrorists, war criminals, and enemies of the state! We have had in place for soon to be 300 years methodology for dealing with war criminals, including a firing squad and hanging by the neck till dead without benefit of trial in US courts!

I think a perfect punishment for these men would be a firing squad made up of 72 of America's finest FEMALE sharpshooters. Swift, painless, and as merciful as it gets!

[50BMS13]

Very bad for New York to have the bullseye painted on it again. This is a military issue not a criminal civilian issue. Now that Obama is trying to make this a civil matter rather than a war matter, these terrorists could get off. They have been waterboarded and god knows what else. If this is a war matter, big deal. Now that it is a civilian matter, their rights have been abused. Anything they have said or admitted to to date will be stricken from the court and not allowed as evidence. Obama himself exposed Bush's tactics for gaining info. What a mess this will turn out to be. Especially if they walk. One muslim lover and you have a hung jury. One paid off judge they walk. Everything has to go perfect to get a conviction. Remember O.J.?