White House orders Justice Department to look for other places to hold 9/11 terror trial

Why?

Two reasons, I submit:

1. Holder and Obama are trying to mitigate the flak they've been taking with regard to this issue specifically and recent issues in general, in concert with

2. They are privy to information indicating there may be an act attempted at the venue, and other sites may be more defensible.

Or was it something this simple:

Meanwhile, a source told The News that Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly was the driving force behind the push by Manhattan business leaders to change the mayor's mind on the trial.

Kelly made an "extremely powerful" speech to a roomful of 150 prominent business leaders about how disruptive and costly the trial would be for lower Manhattan at an annual police charity event on Jan. 13, the source said.

"What turned this around was when Ray made a presentation to the Police Foundation," the source said. "Everyone went from thinking, 'Justice will be served' to thinking 'We are screwed.'"

What followed was a barrage of complaints to the mayor from some of New York's most powerful tycoons - part of a tide of pressure that led Bloomberg to turn against hosting the trial.

Estimates put the cost of a multiyear terror trial in lower Manhattan at about $200 million a year. Leaders have suggested other venues for the trial, such as the Military Academy at West Point or Stewart Air National Guard Base in upstate Newburgh.

The federal government has said they would reimburse the city for the costs, most of which cover overtime for increased security, but they won't reimburse business owners for lost revenue during the chaos, said Steven Spinola, president of the heavyweight business group Real Estate Board of New York.

The idea of trying KSM and his minions in civilian courts is flawed on its face, as is Mirandizing and then trying Mr Fruit-of-the-Loom in a civilian venue as well.

BZ