Accused 9/11 mastermind must now protect US secrets

US Features

Jun 6, 2008, 8:28 GMT

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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SP4: Oh YeahJun 6th, 2008 - 08:41:56

The United States is thee biggest Human Rights abuser and eventually an International Tribunal WILL prosecute both civilian and military officials from the US for these crimes against humanity.

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MeJun 6th, 2008 - 09:27:02

What planet are you from? The U.S. is the biggets human rights abuser?

Wake up! Educate yourself before you spout your useless gibberish.

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sydney buiJun 6th, 2008 - 09:30:10

Are you kidding? Did you just says 'the worst abuser'. Why don't you go over to China or Burma for a couple of months. Come back and evaluate your comments. Sometime people like you do not know how lucky you are to be in the U.S.

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XenophiliusJun 6th, 2008 - 09:32:59

Does anyone still believe the official story that this guy could be the 9/11 mastermind? If so ask him this:

1) Did you influence PNAC's statement released a year before 9/11 that a 'new pearl harbor' was needed in order to justify an invasion of Iraq?

2) Did you cause the NRO/CIA to plan a plane into building exercise on 9/11 in order to cast suspicion for the attacks on the US government?

3) Did you influence or have advanced knowledge of NORAD's war game exercises on 9/11 which placed false blips on radar screens that morning?

There are so many more questions he should be asked for the public record, such as, 'Are you about to make a false confession in order to stop being tortured?', and 'Are you a paid actor or an agent of the US government?'

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eric the (well) readJun 6th, 2008 - 09:45:00

Xenophillius: Get a life. I was in the Navy for seventeen years. The US Government could never pull this off. Way too many people involved.

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The most important STATE SECRET OF 9/11Jun 6th, 2008 - 09:50:29

FOLLOWING ARE THE STATE SECRETS that this agent of CIA has to protect...

(1)Bush was the master grantor and CIA planned and executed the plan.

(2) USA WAS LOOKING FOR 9 YEARS, AND FINALLY GOT THE LICENSE TO KILL MUSLIMS, DENEGRATE ISLAM AND THE RESPECTABLES OF MUSLIMS.

(3) The rulers of most of the Muslim countries are agents of CIA, Saudies, Pakistan, Egypt etc.

AND SO ON...

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An American For JusticeJun 6th, 2008 - 09:54:28

This man deserves to be hung, on worldwide TV, kill this
disease parasite now. Why is he still alive when he is resposible for so many mutiple murders?
Get real with this.
KILL HIM......

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Anonymous4EverJun 6th, 2008 - 09:58:06

Makes me wonder what the government is hiding and whether or not this person is nothing more then a fall-guy for one of the worst atrocities to happen by a government which was sworn to protect the very people it deceives, oppresses and kills in the name of 'National Security'. Even more amazing, is the fact that people have become so subdued that they no longer take action for themselves when a violation has been committed against them by those who are sworn to be trusted. A pity that people no longer have the fortitude within themselves to speak out and say, 'This has got to stop!'

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Jay Severin Has a small pen1sJun 6th, 2008 - 10:00:31

Ha ha ha. The government allows terrorists to get information they won't reveal to their own people. lol. What a messed up concept. These guys are supposed to be totally evil and, somehow the government accepts a promise from them that they won't reveal the information if they get acquited. I couldn't make up such comedy.

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BubbaJun 6th, 2008 - 10:03:21

This is a nightmare. . .please let me wake up. . .tell me it is not happening. . .

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Accused 9/11 mastermind must now protect US secrets

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