US Features

Jun 6, 2008, 8:28 GMT

Accused 9/11 mastermind must now protect US secrets

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba - The United States has regarded him as one of the most dangerous men in the world, a sworn enemy who plotted the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people.

In this photograph of a sketch by courtroom artist Janet Hamlin, reviewed by the U.S. Military, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, center, and Waleed bin Attash, two of the Sept. 11 attacks co-conspirator suspects, attend their arraignment inside the war crimes courthouse at Camp Justice, the legal complex of the U.S. Military Commissions, at Guantanamo Bay U.S. Naval Base, Cuba, 05 June 2008. EPA/BRENNAN LINSLEY / POOL PHOTO OF SKETCH BY JANET HAMLIN.Now, the United States is asking Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to safeguard some of its national security secrets. That's part of the rules Mohammed must follow after being granted the right to represent himself before a military tribunal that could hand him the death penalty. It was also one of the more bizarre twists as Mohammed and four other co-defendants appeared Thursday for the beginning of their tribunal and for the first time in public after years of secret confinement. The more than six-hour proceedings at the US Navy base at Guantanamo Bay in remote Cuba featured a host of strange events, from Mohammed insisting a sketch artist redo his nose before the image went public to another defendant wanting to know what would happen to his body if he was executed. But little stood out more than toward the end of the process when, after a request from the judge, Ralph Kohlmann, Mohammed promised to protect classified information that is off-limits to the American public. 'It was weird conceptually,' said Joanne Mariner, a director at Human Rights Watch who observed the arraignment. 'It was one of incongruous moments of the hearing.' Under the rules of the military tribunals, the Pentagon said the defendants would have access to all of the evidence presented in court, even if it is classified. The military said the rule would help guarantee the suspects get a fair trial although that assessment has been challenged by human rights groups. Mohammed was one of three defendants granted permission to represent themselves who promised to not reveal secret information at the trials. When classified information needs to be presented, both sides are required to inform Kohlmann, a Marine colonel, in advance so he would be able to suspend public viewing of the proceedings. There is a button in the courtroom the judge can order pushed to shut off the closed-circuit telecast to the media centre about 200 yards away from the proceedings. It also cuts off the audio feed into the press box inside the courtroom. The Pentagon said it had to balance the need to allow defendants to see classified evidence that could be used in the courtroom with the need to keep it out of the public eye, even if that means it falls into the hands of individuals like Mohammed and other terrorist suspects seen as some of the worst enemies in recent US history. 'They are entitled to it if we are going to use it in trial,' said Major Gail Crawford, a spokeswoman for the tribunals. 'That's our system of justice. You have to decide what's more important.' But even if Mohammed and his cohorts do get to see the classified material, there's a good chance they won't be taking it off Cuba. If he is acquitted before the tribunal, the US military could continue holding him as an enemy combatant in the war on terrorism, a struggle many believe won't ever end.

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Vat 81Jun 7th, 2008 - 19:15:03

Don't make martyrs out of them. I would suggest introducing art to justice. Build a miniature twin towers cell out of shatterproof glass and let these 9-ll folks live in it for the rest of their lives with three squares a day and no abuse.

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NoharnessJun 7th, 2008 - 19:52:02

RE:'Don't make martyrs out of them. I would suggest introducing art to justice. Build a miniature twin towers cell out of shatterproof glass and let these 9-ll folks live in it for the rest of their lives with three squares a day and no abuse.'

I'll buy this one, only let's set them up in New York City so that the New Yorkers can see justice being done.

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What?Jun 8th, 2008 - 02:38:05

No wonder America is the second most hated nation after Israel.

What a thread, American IQ on view. Zero not a clue.

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prE4chErJun 8th, 2008 - 04:06:24

Lance- Who said anything about modelling them after the U.S.? I only said that if they stop killing American troops, the military and contractors will rebuild. That has nothing to do with modelling the government or infrastructure after the U.S. It only means that schools, hospitals, office buildings, electrical plants, sewage, and the likes would be rebuilt if they could stop all the senseless violence for a while. Instead, the military has to focus it's energies on keeping peace. I could care less whether or not Iraq is anything like us, but I do think we need to fix some of the schools and hospitals we bombed the sh*t out of.

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tonny from belgiumJun 8th, 2008 - 08:27:06

Has it occurred to you that Iraq is perfectly capable of rebuiling their hospitals and schooling system themselves ?Why hand out the contracts for that to Haliburton and the likes if the Iraqis can do the job for ten times less money and create wealth in the same process.An Iraqi firm doing a job acquires expertise,knowledge,wealth and jobs at a fraction of the price.

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Agree......Jun 8th, 2008 - 15:37:31

It's time for Iraq to take care of themselves, the U.S. has done more than their share in loss of lives and the cost to the U.S. However, many will debate that on the premise that Iraq didn't ask for them to interfere in their country in the first place, bombing and killing, so they SHOULD pay - a double-edged sword at best.

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shut up tonny, you embarrass yourselfJun 8th, 2008 - 19:44:43

'Has it occurred to you that Iraq is perfectly capable of rebuiling their hospitals and schooling system themselves '

Could you be more of a moron? I doubt it.

'An Iraqi firm doing a job acquires expertise,knowledge,wealth and jobs at a fraction of the price. '

There are lots of Iraqi firms doing the rebuilding. That is only possable because of the security that we are providing.

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Joe in CAJun 8th, 2008 - 22:40:56

This is the self same man who 'Admitted' to have masterminded the Oklahoma city bombings and the Kennedy assassination.

This guy isn't it. He's a product of waterboarding, and the US is using this as a red herring.

Where's the guy who the gov't had the country believe was responsible for 9/11? Have we all forgotten that OSAMA BIN LADIN is still on the run?

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Who in the hell is.....Jun 9th, 2008 - 13:37:24

Osama everybody been talking about?

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Haven't you heard?Jun 9th, 2008 - 21:05:46

'Who in the hell is....

Osama everybody been talking about?'

The democrat nominee for president of the United States.

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Old SchoolJun 10th, 2008 - 15:15:00

Secrets ???

I have traveled by freighter many times in and out of Central and South American. I have also seen many questionable travelers walk off the ship in many US Ports then slip into the night. There must be an entire Army of terrorism in the US by now...............

And so it is.....................

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New SchoolJun 10th, 2008 - 20:59:16

That shouldn't surprise anyone, and what about all the freight that so many people have access to before and during the time it is loaded onto planes? It is my understanding that it isn't given the scrutiny that little kids' and elderly peoples' carry-ons is given.

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