U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s Thursday night speech to the Constitution Project was in the classic telling-hard-truths-to-your-base mold. Unfortunately Holder will never win the respect of the base by rebuking the only people who are willing to support him and who are invested in his success.

The Department of Justice has just sent a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee answering early questions about how many terrorists have been convicted or plead guilty in civilian courts. Between those convicted of terrorism-related crimes (150) and individuals with ties to international terrorism convicted of other crimes (like obstruction or perjury–the total here is 240), 390 people have been sent to prison using our civilian courts. Not on this list? Right-wing American terrorists like Scott Roeder.

So instead of providing an incentive for al Qaeda insiders to flip in exchange for special treatment, we instead push for indefinite detention for them (albeit detention softened by fast food). And we’re left with the kind of intelligence hack contractors can collect in the field rather than real inside information.