Is it frontier justice?

Philadelphia Inquirer: Speaking of the terrorists who struck so savagely in Saudi Arabia two weeks ago, President Bush said, "The United States will find the killers, and they will learn the meaning of American justice."
This echoed a line from his last State of the Union address: "One by one, the terrorists are learning the meaning of American justice."
It's good to see the president referring to the meaning of American justice, since the man he put in charge of the nation's Department of Justice seems to have such a feeble grasp of the concept. For John Ashcroft, battling terrorism means never having to tell the Constitution he's sorry.
Bill of Rights
There's that word: Constitution. Traditionally, of course, the meaning of American justice, as established in the glorious Bill of Rights, has hinged on such concepts as due process, habeas corpus, the presumption of innocence, trial by a jury of peers, punishment that is neither cruel nor unusual, and a chance at post-sentence rehabilitation.
In this tradition, care and fairness in the pursuit of justice replace a rush to bloody vengeance. Punishment, when deserved, is delivered -- but only after it is clear that it is merited.
This grand tradition lies at the heart of the American claim that this nation, despite its flaws, can serve as a beacon to the world. And it stands in stark contrast to the repressive, authoritarian rule common in many of the Middle Eastern nations that have been breeding grounds for terror.
So surely, that's what you meant, Mr. President, when you talked about terrorists "learning the meaning of American justice."
Isn't it?