During the 2008 General Election, Republicans were only too happy to wrap themselves up in the flag proclaiming that they were the “real Americans”. As much to suggest that the Democratic base from the Cities were somehow less American.

Part of “real America” is a belief in justice. It is after all what lay behind the war of independence. So what the hell is up with Republicans who now attack the Obama administration for bringing those accused of the largest terrorist attack on America to trial?

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said described it as “a step backwards for the security of our country” that “puts Americans unnecessarily at risk”. Former President George W Bush’s last attorney general, Michael Mukasey, said: “The Justice Department claims that our courts are well suited to the task. Based on my experience trying such cases and what I saw as attorney general, they aren’t.” Sen John McCain, a Republican who lost to Mr Obama in the 2008 presidential race, stated that military tribunals were the best venue for terror suspects. “They are war criminals, who committed acts of war against our citizens and those of dozens of other nations,” he said.

For a start, war criminals are brought to trial (with the exception of Bush and Blair). Their being placed in Gitmo was supposed to be because they were not “war criminals”, as there was no war, they were “enemy combatants”.

Is Mukaskey saying that the Judicial System in the US is so broken by his former administration that it can not deliver a fair trial under what will be the full glare of World media?

What exactly is Mitch McConnell suggesting? That the case his former administration supposedly spent 7 years building is so weak on evidence they will all get off?

The Republicans just do not get it. Far from being something to scare America with, properly conducted fair trials are a victory for Americans and for the values of justice. They will show that America still holds true to the values that terrorists wanted to destroy.

It is a shame that Republicans and the hard right because of their own political expediency now stand with the terrorists.