Military Tribunal

Pre-Trial Hearings for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Cancelled

(NEW YORK) — A series of pre-trial hearings in the case of accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed scheduled for later this month have reportedly been cancelled.

According to an email from the military commission at Guantanamo Bay to the families of 9/11 victims, the hearings scheduled to run from August 24 to September 4 were cancelled. The email only cited unresolved issues pertaining to a certain motion.

The next scheduled hearings are set to take place from October 19-30.

http://www.ktsa.com/pre-trial-hearings-for-alleged-911-mastermind-khalid-sheikh-mohammed-cancelled/

http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2015/08/17/u-s-military-cancels-hearing-for-five-911-suspects-held-at-guantanamo/

 

Comparison of Rights in Military Commission Trials and Trials in Federal Criminal Court

In case you have been wondering about the differences between a military commission and federal criminal courts, the Congressional Research Service has just published "Comparison of Rights in Military Commission Trials and Trials in Federal Criminal Court."

Here is the introduction:

Attorney General Holder’s decision to try certain detainees in federal criminal court, including
those accused of conspiring to commit the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and to try other detainees by
military commission, has focused attention on the procedural differences between trials in federal
court and those conducted under the Military Commissions Act, as amended. Some who are
opposed to the decision argue that bringing detainees to the United States for trial poses a security
threat and risks disclosing classified information, or could result in the acquittal of persons who
are guilty. Others have praised the decision as recognizing the efficacy and fairness of the federal
court system and have voiced confidence in the courts’ ability to protect national security while

Poll: Most Americans want military trial for 9/11 suspects

Considering that only 16% of Americans in 2006 said they believed the Bush Administration was "telling the truth" about "what they knew prior to September 11th, 2001, about possible terrorist attacks against the United States" http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/13469 , the results of this poll are puzzling and disturbing. Why are so many Americans not interested in a public trial, if they're so sure of KSM's guilt? Why are so many Americans willing to tolerate secret evidence and other limitations on the human rights of the accused? The percentages in the polls show that some of the same people supporting military tribunals are also skeptical the Bush Administration has told the truth about 9/11. It seems likely that significant numbers of Americans believe that, whatever responsibility the Bush Administration (and/or others) bear for 9/11, that KSM and the other accused did play a role in the 9/11 attacks. And KSM et al may well have played a role- but let's have the evidence produced, in a public courtroom, where it can be challenged by competent defense counsel, and weighed by a jury and the interested public. - loose nuke

Lindsey Graham seeks to block 9/11 trials in U.S.

Lindsey Graham seeks to block 9/11 trials in U.S.

James Rosen
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is trying to prevent the Obama administration from holding criminal trials in civilian courts for the alleged Sept. 11 plotters instead of bringing them before military commissions.

Graham, who helped craft the 2006 law that established the military commissions, said Friday that he'd attached an amendment to an appropriations bill that would prohibit the Obama administration from spending money on the prosecution and trial of the accused terrorists before U.S. civilian federal judges.

"Khalid Sheik Mohammed needs to be tried in a military tribunal," Graham said. "He's not a common criminal. He took up arms against the United States."

Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, is being held at the U.S. military prison in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, along with four other alleged plotters of the jetliner strikes that killed nearly 3,000 Americans.

Former Israeli soldier to determine if Bin al Shibh is sane

Defense seeks foreign-born experts for 9/11 case

By CAROL ROSENBERG

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVY BASE, Cuba -- In seeking to examine whether accused 9/11 lieutenant Ramzi bin al Shibh is sane, Pentagon defense attorneys are turning to an Israeli-American and Cuban American exile as mental health experts.

The Pentagon's supervisor of the war court, Susan J. Crawford, has so far refused to fund one of the consultants, Ruben C. Gur. The other, Xavier Amador, has so far been banned from talking to bin al Shibh in the high-profile case that seeks the death penalty for five men accused as co-conspirators in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

So defense lawyers were seeking a court order for both in motions being argued at the military commissions on Thursday. No immediate ruling was expected.

Amador, a Cuban American clinical psychologist, has testified as an expert in the Unabomber and Zacarias Moussaoui cases. He immigrated to the United States in the early 1960s.

Gur, a psychologist, is a former Israeli soldier and leading expert in neuroimaging, the study of CT scans for signs of mental illness.

Lawyer: Gitmo Trials Pegged To '08 Campaign

Using the murder of 2,973+ people for everything it's worth... I don't think anyone (honest) can deny that the 9/11 attacks have been used by those in Government for MULTIPLE reasons (pre-emptive war, loss of civil liberties, reason to continue wars, and on and on and on...). Almost as if the attacks were designed specifically for that purpose. Hmmm... - Jon

Source: miamiherald.com

BY CAROL ROSENBERG
crosenberg@MiamiHerald.com
Posted on Fri, Mar. 28, 2008

The Navy lawyer for Osama bin Laden's driver argues in a Guantánamo military commissions motion that senior Pentagon officials are orchestrating war crimes prosecutions for the 2008 campaign.

The Pentagon declined late Friday to address the defense lawyer's allegations, noting that the matter is under litigation.

The brief filed Thursday by Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brian Mizer directly challenged the integrity of President Bush's war court.

9/11 Families Fear Tribunal Secrets

Seek answers, death penalty

Source: bostenherald.com

By Joe Dwinell
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 - Updated 7h ago

Families of 9/11 victims fear a military tribunal of six accused al-Qaeda killers will end with too many secrets being carried to the grave.

Family members tell the Herald they want justice - including executions as the ultimate penalty - but also a public airing of security failures and names of Arab moneymen who bankrolled the terrorists.

“I hope we can follow the terrorists’ routes and learn about the frontmen,” said Mike Low, whose 28-year-old daughter, Sara Low of Boston, was a flight attendant on American Airlines [AMR] Flight 11 that hijackers slammed into the World Trade Center north tower.

Bill Doyle, who lost his son, Joey, in the attacks said he’s suing the government for $1 trillion to expose who financed the terrorists. A tribunal, he said, may help or doom his complex litigation.

RSS