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August 6, 2024 1342 replies
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9/11 victim family member Maureen Santora during pre-trial motions for case against Khalid Sheikh Mohammad, 2008. Image: Getty
Q1. Last Wednesday, the Defense Department approved a plea deal with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two other Guantanamo detainees accused of orchestrating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The defendants pleaded guilty in exchange for life sentences. Prosecutors had been seeking the death penalty, but the alleged torture of the defendants while in Central Intelligence Agency custody had clouded proceedings.

Which would you prefer?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+

This deal goes through

33%
30%
35%
7%
39%
57%
37%
34%
30%
32%

Deal is revoked, death penalty is pursued

54%
60%
48%
87%
40%
23%
48%
48%
57%
59%

Other

4%
2%
5%
3%
8%
3%
2%
8%
2%
2%

Don't know enough to say

8%
7%
10%
3%
10%
13%
7%
9%
10%
7%

Don't care

2%
1%
2%
0%
3%
3%
6%
1%
0%
Q2. Two days after the Defense Dept approved the deal, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin revoked it, writing "I have determined that, in light of the significance of the decision to enter into pre-trial agreements with the accused in the above-referenced case, responsibility for such a decision should rest with me."

Whether you support the plea agreement or not, how much input do you think the Defense Secretary should have in this decision?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+

Final authority

21%
22%
19%
24%
14%
19%
8%
13%
26%
33%

Some authority

42%
39%
44%
46%
35%
39%
44%
42%
40%
42%

A little authority

13%
9%
16%
6%
16%
19%
22%
16%
8%
7%

No authority

17%
19%
14%
18%
18%
15%
13%
21%
17%
14%

Don't know

8%
9%
6%
6%
13%
8%
11%
7%
8%
5%

Don't care

1%
1%
0%
0%
4%
0%
1%
1%
0%
Q3. The Defense Department's involvement in the trial is the outgrowth of a Sept 11 era military order issued by then President George W Bush creating tribunals answerable to him, that could prosecute and execute enemy prisoners without resorting to the federal judiciary or established military justice system.

The Supreme Court threw out that plan in 2006, and Congress passed legislation in that year and in 2009 authorizing a military commission system which resembles courts-martial but lacks constitutional rights afforded to US citizens and service members. The Military Commissions Act gives the defense secretary power over the convening authority, but also says that judicial decisions should be free of undue influence.

Generally speaking, which do you think would be the better 'platform' to try Sept 11 detainees, the military commission system or the regular federal judicial system?
male
female
rep
ind
dem
18-29
30-44
45-64
65+

Military commission system

47%
52%
42%
67%
38%
28%
39%
43%
52%
49%

Regular federal judicial system

33%
31%
35%
16%
37%
50%
46%
30%
28%
33%

Both equally good

11%
8%
14%
10%
7%
12%
6%
11%
13%
12%

Both equally bad

3%
3%
3%
3%
5%
3%
1%
7%
1%
2%

Don't know

6%
6%
7%
4%
11%
7%
8%
10%
5%
4%

Don't care

0%
1%
0%
0%
2%
0%
1%
0%
0%
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