Last night, Attorney General Eric Holder defended the use of civilian trials as an effective tool in combating terrorism, saying that a proposal to eliminate them "would seriously harm our national security." This echoed his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week.  Holder is supported by a broad consensus among national security experts from across the political spectrum that civilian trials are in fact a valuable and effective tool in combating terrorism.  Yet, despite this consensus from experts, conservative critics continue to disregard their utility and seek to eliminate the option of civilian trials, using fear mongering tactics to politicize national security.  Maintaining the option for civilian trials and bringing terrorists to justice is an essential part of a broader counterterrorism framework that has proven effective, and eliminating this tool comes at the expense of America's national security.

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For months, conservatives have looked desperately for a reality-based argument against bringing terrorists to justice using America's federal courts.  First they said our criminal justice system was unsafe.  When that failed, they moved to arguing that a trial in a federal court would be a propaganda tool for terrorists.  Now, Liz Cheney and Keep America Safe have resorted to peddling ‘urban myths' that federal courts cannot protect America's intelligence secrets.  The reality is that federal courts are one of the most effective instruments in America's counterterrorism arsenal, offering protection for intelligence secrets, leverage to yield actionable intelligence, a superb conviction rate, tough sentences, and a platform for condemning extremism before the entire world.

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Attorney General Eric Holder’s visit today to Guantanamo Bay as the leader for the task force on handling detainees is a step toward turning the page on the failed detention and interrogation policies of the Bush administration – and a reminder of just how massive and complex the task will be.  .  It’s time to return to policies that both keep us safe and embody the best of American values.  The Obama administration’s review of the detainee situation and its commitment to close Guantanamo within a year is a major step towards this goal. 

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