Secret trials

Robert Gates wants the Guantanamo trials to be held in secret:

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates on Wednesday defended a Pentagon decision to hold secret hearings for 14 suspected terrorists transferred to Guantanamo Bay last year, despite the fact that similar proceedings have been held in open session.

The decision, announced earlier this week, represents a change in administration policy and was criticized by former military lawyers and human rights organizations.

Gates said he did not think that closing the combatant status review tribunals for the 14 suspects, who include alleged Sept. 11 organizer Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, would undermine the credibility of the process.

I actually agree with Gates on that last point. They won't undermine the credibility of the processs because the process had no credibility to begin with. These trials are going to be using heresay, evidence obtained through torture, evidence which the defendant and his counsel are not allowed to see - and therefore are unable to rebut. The judges are directly under the command of the Pentagon who is bringing the trials in the first place. Just look at what has happened to the eight U.S. attorneys to know what will happen to those judges if they find any of these guys innocent. So there are no worries about undermining credibility. It would be just as credible if they just hauled these guys out and shot them without a trial.