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President Obama and Common Sense

A few months ago, I wrote an article for Parade magazine about what President Obama could teach America's kids. Basically, the piece told children that despite having no father present and a rather loopy mom, the president was able to prosper and achieve the most powerful position in the world. If young Barry Obama could overcome his chaotic upbringing (which included a stint in Indonesia), most American kids in difficult circumstances can do the same.

There is no question that Obama is a brilliant man. After graduating from Harvard Law, he worked his way up the political ladder quickly, using Chicago's South Side as a launching pad. That's tough turf, so Obama had to combine book smarts with guile, which he did.

And so it is simply stunning to see how poorly Obama is faring in the common sense zone as president. The best example of his failure to anticipate trouble is how he's handling Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

I remember sitting there with some friends in New York City last November when Attorney General Eric Holder announced that old Khalid would be leaving Guantanamo Bay and heading for the Big Apple to be tried by civilians instead of by a military tribunal. We looked at one another incredulously. Is Obama joking? Doesn't he know how raw emotions still are in the city? And then the expense estimates began rolling in — it would take hundreds of millions of dollars to try Mohammed and four other al-Qaida thugs.

Then I was reminded that Congress had passed a law specifically allowing captured overseas terrorists to be judged by the military.

Since a military trial would cost about $39.95 a day (participants are already on the federal payroll), why on earth would anyone OK an incredibly expensive dog and pony show for these murderers?

Remember, Mohammed already admitted to planning 9/11 and gave up his confederates in the effort, most of whom, upon capture, confirmed that he was Mr. Big. Also, Mohammed says he personally slit the throat of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl. He has admitted doing this. So why are we wasting time?

Holder says it's because we want the world to see the U.S. justice system on display. Again, why? The people who hate us are not going to change their minds because a jury condemns the terrorists to death instead of military officers. Do Holder and the president not get that?

Polls show that most Americans realize the Mohammed decision is stupid. Now big-time Democrats like Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Chuck Schumer have publicly told the president to wise up. And he has. Last Friday, the White House announced it was looking at other venues. Swell.

But why was this deal allowed to get out of control? That is very troubling. If Obama is so smart, why did he not realize the absurdity of the situation?

At this point, I simply don't know.

Veteran TV news anchor Bill O'Reilly is host of the Fox News show "The O'Reilly Factor" and author of the book "Who's Looking Out For You?" To find out more about Bill O'Reilly, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com. This column originates on the Web site www.billoreilly.com.

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