The die is cast, unwisely

The U.S. government’s recent track record in prosecuting high-profile criminal cases in not very good. It seems the incompetence that was part and parcel of the Bush administration extends to the Obama administration’s Department of Justice as well. Just this year, we have seen notable failures. First, back in May, a district court in Montana delivered a stunning rebuke to the government in what the DOJ called the most significant environmental case taken up by the government. In this matter the government didn’t secure one – not one – notable verdict. Then, last week, two Bear Stearns hedge fund guys walked away free when a Brooklyn, NY jury found them not guilty of the government’s charges of lying to investors. In both cases, hubris, prosecutorial ineptitude, and downright bad faith led to the defeats.

So color me skeptical concerning the Obama administration’s decision to try the 9/11 suspects held at Guantanamo Bay here in New York.