Transcript: Rachel Maddow Show (11-13-09)

Here's the complete transcript for the Rachel Maddow Show(11-13-09). Excerpt below:

That was President Bush two weeks after September 11th, promising to capture and bring to justice those responsible for the 9/11 attacks. Well, now, more than eight years after that promise was made, we still haven`t caught Osama bin Laden. But among others with some alleged responsible for 9/11, finally, we learn today that while justice has been delayed, it will not forever be denied.

The Bush administration which talked so tough about getting justice for the perpetrators of 9/11 ultimately left office without doing that. It has been left to the next administration, the incoming Obama administration, to make good on the promises of justice that are nearly decade old.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: Today, I am announcing that the Department of Justice will pursue prosecution in federal court of the five individuals accused of conspiring to commit the 9/11 attacks. After eight years of delay, those allegedly responsible for the attacks of September the 11th will finally face justice. They will be brought to New York -- to New York -- to answer for their alleged crimes in a courthouse just blocks away from where the Twin Towers once stood.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADDOW: Attorney General Eric Holder today announcing that alleged 9/11 mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four other suspects will be transferred from Guantanamo to a New York City federal courthouse, to finally face trial. Today`s announcement means their trials will take place, as he said, just short walk from "Ground Zero" in Lower Manhattan. The attorney general says prosecutors will seek the death penalty for all five defendants, if they are found guilty.

In addition to the 9/11 defendants, the Justice Department also announced today that five additional terrorism suspects will not get a day in court. They will instead face military commissions for their alleged role in the bombing of the USS Cole in the year 2000 and other attacks on U.S. military personnel.

These are big developments that have been a very long time coming. And in a move as about as anticipated as the sun rising tomorrow morning, the Republican Party says it is outraged. Not over the military commissions decision, but over the fact that the 9/11 defendants will finally be facing justice in real courts.

Senator Jeff Sessions said, quote, "Our court system was never designed for this purpose. These trials will turn lawyers, juries and judges into targets."

Senator Jon Kyl said, "Past trials of terrorists have proven that our civilian courts are not the appropriate venue to handle international terrorism trials."

Senator John McCain blasting the decision tonight during a news conference in Arizona.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I do not understand why a war criminal should be able to have the same rights as a common criminal. And they should reverse this decision and they should be tried in military tribunals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

MADDOW: And then there`s the former mayor of New York City, Rudy Giuliani.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RUDY GIULIANI (R), FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: In a criminal trial, the rights of terrorists are more important than anything else. I mean, we -- here -- our criminal justice system is geared to let guilty people go free, if there is any doubt. We think they`re criminals. These are soldiers in a war against us. And the rules of war should apply.