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| US Drops Charges Against Alleged '20th Hijacker' in September 11 Attacks |
| 2008-05-14 |
| The United States has dropped charges against the alleged "20th hijacker" in the September 11th, 2001, terror attacks on the United States. The Defense Department says charges against Mohammed al-Qahtani of Saudi Arabia were dropped without prejudice, meaning they can be filed again later. Charges against five other suspects in the attacks were referred to trial. Those suspects include the alleged mastermind of the attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman could not say why the charges against al-Qahtani were dropped, but did say that the reasons could include the nature of the charges, the evidence and commission rules, among other potential factors. Whitman says the five suspects referred to trial should be arraigned within 30 days, and the trial could begin within 120 days. The Pentagon says the five men will be tried jointly in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and that they face the possibility of being sentenced to death. U.S. prosecutors said al-Qahtani did not take part in the attacks because he was denied entry into the United States by an immigration agent. Al-Qahtani recanted a confession he made at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, alleging it was made after he was tortured and humiliated. Prosecutors filed murder and war crimes charges in February against the suspects, who also include Walid bin Attash, Ramzi bin al-Shibh, Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali and Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi. All of the men are being held at the U.S. military facility in Guantanamo Bay. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 I think it's the quid for the expected 'pro quo' as Bush has to Grrr. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2008-05-14 17:19 |
| #2 You don't understand, WE2700. We turned him, he's OUR man in Riyadh. He probably won't be able to get within ten miles of an al-Qaida operative for the next 50 years. He's damaged goods, suspect, a possible traitor. His life will be a living hell. "There's more than one way to skin a cat, and none of them are pleasant to the cat..." |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2008-05-14 12:54 |
| #1 Talk about being shamed. This is shameful. If this jerk is freed, he'll be on the street in Riyadh within 30 days, as per normal. His situation should have been taken care of long ago. Permanently. |
| Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700 2008-05-14 09:09 |