Holder Claims Lawyers Are 'Most Effective Terror-Fighting Weapon'

 Transcript:

"I will continue to point out one indisputable fact; which has been proven repeatedly during this administration, and the previous one. In disrupting potential attacks, and effectively interrogating, prosecuting, and incarcerating terrorists, there is quite simply, no more powerful tool than our civilian court system.

"Now, despite this fact, and it is a fact; some in congress have proposed to ban the use of Article Three Courts, in prosecuting terrorism-related cases. They claim that utilizing our civilian court system, as we have for more than 200 years; would somehow jeopardize public safety."

"Now, I don't need to be told by anyone about the seriousness of the dangers that we face. As Roberts said, I began each day with a briefing on the most urgent threats made against the United States in the preceding 24 hours. I know that in distant countries and within our own borders, there are people intent on and actively plotting to kill Americans. For nearly as long as our organization has existed, our nation has been at war. And like every person in this room, like the President, and those who serve this administration, and like every member of congress, I am determined to defeat our enemies. I know we can, and I am certain that we will. But victory and security will not come easily, and they won't come at all if we adhere to a rigid ideology; (inaudible) adopting narrow methodology or abandon our most affective terror-fighting weapon: our Article Three Court system."

"Now, despite this reality, we continue to see over-heated rhetoric that is detached from history, and detached from the facts. We see crucial national security tools once again being put at risk by those who disparage the American Criminal Justice system, and misguidedly claim that terror suspects cannot be tried safely in our civilian courts."