Pentagon Drops Charges Against "20th Hijacker"

Posted by Attaturk, Firedoglake at 6:54 AM on May 13, 2008.

Heckuva job on not following the 'quaint' Geneva Convention against Torture:

The Pentagon has dropped charges against a Saudi at Guantanamo who was alleged to have been the so-called "20th hijacker" in the Sept. 11 attacks, his U.S. military defense lawyer said Monday.

Mohammed al-Qahtani was one of six men charged by the military in February with murder and war crimes for their alleged roles in the 2001 attacks. Authorities say al-Qahtani missed out on taking part in the attacks because he was denied entry to the U.S. by an immigration agent.

But in reviewing the case, the convening authority for military commissions, Susan Crawford, decided to dismiss the charges against al-Qahtani and proceed with the arraignment for the other five, said Army Lt. Col. Bryan Broyles, the Saudi's military lawyer.

And just why did they dismiss the charges now?

The attorney said he could not comment on the reasons for the dismissal until discussing the case with lawyers for the other five defendants. Officials previously said al-Qahtani had been subjected to a harsh interrogation authorized by former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld.

I feel a chorus of 'Proud to be an American' coming on. Excuse me while I take my anti-treacle medication.

The charges were dismissed without prejudice -- but not the torture of course -- so they could be refiled at a later time.

But why this is occurring may be considered in context with what is happening with the other five individuals:

A Pentagon spokesman, Navy Cmdr. Jeffrey Gordon, confirmed the case was proceeding against the five defendants and that their arraignment will be within 30 days of the charges being served at the U.S. base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba...

The five defendants include Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the terrorist attacks in 2001 that killed nearly 3,000 people, and Ramzi Binalshibh, who is said to have been the main intermediary between the hijackers and al-Qaida leaders. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for all of them.

Must get these trials on camera and before the election and all, if at all possible. But al-Qahtani being tried would clearly be embarrassing because his confession was the product of torture which he later recanted. The evidence of his guilt must be very tied to the torture-produced confession.

The alleged torture, which he detailed in a written statement, included being beaten, restrained for long periods in uncomfortable positions, threatened with dogs, exposed to loud music and freezing temperatures and stripped nude in front of female personnel.

'God bless the U-S-A!'

Tagged as: 9/11, guantanamo, mohammed al-qahtani, military tribunal