OK everybody, calm down. Contrary to what four of our state's top politicians would have you believe, a pair of terrorism suspects arrested in Bowling Green can be tried here without harming Kentuckians.
In fact, a decade of experience tells us that conceding to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's demand that the two be moved to Guantanamo would be riskier and costlier than trying them here.
Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 400 suspects have been convicted of terrorism or national security crimes in courthouses across the United States.
Not once has there been an escape or a retaliatory attack on anyone or any place.
Not once has a suspect of any nationality arrested in the U. S. been sent to Guantanamo or tried in a military tribunal. That's probably a good thing. The tribunals favored by McConnell are part of a new and untested system that has convicted just six terrorists, two of whom are already free.
It's unclear the law would allow what McConnell is demanding, which means the legal costs and delays would be enormous if the government took his advice.
In short, McConnell is blowing smoke for political purposes and showing that he will stoop to demagogue anything, even U.S. intelligence and law enforcement.
Predictably, Republican gubernatorial nominee David Williams joined in the hysteria.
To read the complete editorial, visit www.kentucky.com.