To his credit, President Obama decided to try alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his four alleged accomplices in civilian court after they were arrested during 2009. To those who worry about these individuals using their civilian trial as a public forum to recruit more terrorists, I'd reply that we are supposed to have freedom of speech and ask what could these individuals say that would make their murder of innocent people seem morally right.

However, I feel that Attorney General Eric Holder is wrong to seek the death penalty against these individuals. Executing these people might seem emotionally satisfying to many Americans, particularly the family members and friends of the victims. But, such executions would lower us to the level of these murderers and would allow them to claim "martyr" status in some people's eyes. Besides, the death penalty is ALWAYS wrong and is the mark of a barbarian "culture."

I feel that we need to answer terror with justice. We need to show that we are a nation of both laws and compassion. I believe that if we can do this and show that we as a nation stand for justice and that we wish to better the conditions of people around the planet without moralizing that we will starve the fires of terrorism of the hatred on which they feed.