The 9/11 Trials and Our Psychological Well-Being
President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have decided to bring five of those who plotted the 9/11 hijackings to Manhattan to stand trial in federal court.
One of those who will be tried is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the principal architect of the 9/11 attacks and someone believed to have been involved in the 1993 World Trade Center bombings, the 2000 aborted plan to attack Los Angeles International Airport and other atrocities. This decision carries the clear message that the War on Terror should never have been considered a real military action against a foreign entity, but a police action not unlike the War on Drugs or against organized crime.
It’s a critical difference, and the reframing brings with it potential psychological whiplash in the American people, many of whom will now be left trying to sort out whether they were misled in a dramatic, wholesale fashion by a former President, or by this one. Either conclusion is anxiety-provoking. The decision to try these men in civilian court also, however, has other, very serious psychological implications for many millions of Americans.
First, the families of those killed in the 9/11 attacks will see those who orchestrated the murders of their loved ones lawyered-up, dressed up, with their own supporters potentially in attendance or demonstrating in the streets. Their futures will be determined not by the military form of justice that takes into account the way facts are gathered on a battlefield in times of war, but by whether they were read their Miranda rights prior to being arrested and whether they were treated by the standards extended to American citizens who are arrested for armed robbery or rape.
They will contemplate for months or years the very real possibility that those who destroyed their families will go free on technicalities. Beyond the families of victims, the entire population of Manhattan and the cities immediately surrounding it can be expected to experience symptoms consistent with the reawakening of the terror of September 11. They will see legions of security forces deployed in their streets. They may have a vague or more acute sense that the city is again being attacked—or that it will be attacked during the trials. They may avoid certain areas of the city, or avoid the city entirely—for prolonged periods of time. They may experience low mood, insomnia, flashbacks or nightmares.
Hopefully, the Obama Administration will team up with New York state officials to offer specialized psychological services through schools and churches and synagogues and police departments, in order to stave off some of the inevitable psychological fallout. These services should be deployed soon and should be available for a significant period of time after the trials have concluded. Beyond Manhattan and its neighboring cities, beyond New York State, the nation as a whole will, of course, be in a prolonged state of hypervigilance (another hallmark of posttraumatic stress), wondering whether terrorists will see Manhattan during the 9/11 trials as the target to end all targets, the ultimate canvas for a bloody monument to Jihad.
Forget anything like normal consumer patterns or tourism during the trials. People don’t tend to flock to prime targets for dirty bombs. It’s going to be ugly psychologically for Americans, even if the 9/11 defendants are ultimately convicted.
If they’re found innocent due to violations of their civil rights, something vital in the fabric of the American psyche—the sense that we can protect one another and rely on our government to help us do it—could begin to fray.
Dr. Keith Ablow is a psychiatry correspondent for FOX News Channel and a New York Times bestselling author. His book, “Living the Truth: Transform Your Life through the Power of Insight and Honesty” has launched a new self-help movement including www.livingthetruth.com. Dr. Ablow can be emailed at info@keithablow.com.
Tags: 2001, 9/11, bombs, Dr. Keith Ablow, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, New York City, Sept. 11, trials, World Trade Center
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I’m not a lawyer but the notion that these Evil Monsters will be tried “by a jury of their peers” would dictate that Charles Manson, Adolph Hitler, Chairman Mao, Pol Pot, Stalin, perhaps a few garden variety Mexican drug lords, rapists, cannibalistic murderers, and maybe even one Mafia member to create additional prime-time interest, would have to be seated to judge these peaceful, God-fearing gents. God bless the Brave Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen who brought these creeps off the battlefield. You know your job, even if your current Commander-in-Chief is unworthy to lace your boots.
The 9/11 trials will turn into a circus and the public will be bombarded with daily coverage some of which will be responsible coverage and some not so responsible. Be that as it may, my concern is why is this case not being tried in a military court? Are all cases regarding a threat to national security and the safety of the american people going to be tried in a civilian court? And if so, are civilian courts adequate in dealing with national security issues? does this not pose a risk that the public (terrorist included) have access to information that might not otherwise be available? what about the jurors? will they be regular citizens? I need answers here?
I am a mental health professional as well and agree with Dr. Ablow. The long term suffering being inflicted on the 9/11 Families as well the city of New York in general is unconscionable. If it were for a valid purpose I might reconsider, but it appears to me like another act in the Obama “American Apology” tour to show the world how nice and fair we are with everyone, even cold blooded calculating mass murderers. I hope he and the AG get good reviews from Al Jazeera and the other Jihadist news outlets.Not highly likely as they will not be satisfied until all of the American infidels come over to their way of belief. Ah well, what could one really expect from the Chosen One and his apos….er government officials?
When we who have honest disagreements with this administration question its policies, we are demonized. “Racist” is the most common attempt to demonize us, simply because we question the long term consequences of the administration’s policies. Well, if by disagreeing with our President we are racist, what does the decision to treat foreign mass murderers as citizens show about the administration? Once again, they are making decisions by what “feels right” and not by what IS right. It is not right to pet a rabid dog, it not right to try and hug a wild skunk, it is not right to try and tame a shark, and it is not right to treat foreign terrorists as citizens. Mister President, you have consistently shown that you are more concerned with placating and improving our national image to bullies than you are in maintaining the faith of your own country. Adopted mothers and fathers all over the country will be attempting to explain your decision to treat their biological parents’ killers as citizens, and because children can smell a skunk, they will fail in the attempt.
This is such a profound post, Dr. Ablow.
I’m not sure what to think about the whole idea of trying the masterminds behind such a far-reaching act of destruction in civilian criminal court, but I just want to say that I agree whole-heartedly about what a bad idea it is to have the trials set in New York City!
Talk about PTSD for the residents of NYC!!!
Maybe the powers that be thought it would be a good idea to have some kind of “home-advantage” in the courtroom…? Or maybe it really *is* all about flash and “Razzle Dazzle”, in order to turn attention away from all the negatives going on in the country. I suppose every president in the history of this country has had to create a little drama in order to do the job.
You’d have to put a gun to my head to get me to want to be the President of the US.
I think even then, I’d say no.
I really hope the residents of NYC will survive this “Trial” (meant in every sense of the word)!!!
Thanks so much for this blog, Dr. A!