9/11 Terrorists Face the Death Penalty

By Pamela Mortimer

The six detainees, who have been charged with murder and war crimes in connection with the September 11 attacks, will be subjected to the death penalty. Officials said that the prisoners, held at Guantanamo Bay, will face a possible death sentence in the first trials under the new "terrorism-era military tribunal system".

"These charges allege a long term, highly sophisticated, organized plan by al-Qaida to attack the United States of America," Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Hartmann, the legal adviser to the tribunal system, told reporters. Hartmann added that the charges have been brought "against six individuals alleged to be responsible for the planning and execution of the attacks" which occurred on September 11, 2001, killing approximately 3,000 people.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino stated that President Bush took no part in the decision to seek the death penalty.

"Obviously 9-11 was a defining moment in our history," she said, "and a defining moment in the global war on terror. And this judicial process is the next step in that story. The president is sure that the military is going to follow through in a way that the Congress said they should."

This trial marks the first significant move by prosecutors who have been working for years to develop a solid case against the alleged attackers.

The six prisoners being charged are:

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the attacks which prompted hijacked planes to fly into the buildings in New York and Washington, as well as the plane that crashed in rural western Pennsylvania;

Mohammed al-Qahtani, the man known as the "20th hijacker";

Ramzi Binalshibh, said to have been the chief liaison between the hijackers and leaders of al-Qaida;

Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, aka Ammar al-Baluchi, a nephew of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who has been identified as Mohammed’s lieutenant;

Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi, Ammar al-Baluchi’s assistant;

Waleed bin Attash, a ka Khallad, who officials say selected and trained a portion of the hijackers.

Officials have not determined whether the men will be tried as a group by the tribunal. The debate regarding one trial stems from the allegations that the prisoners had been treated in an abusive manner while incarcerated. Harsh criticisms regarding the military’s techniques have been brought to the forefront in recent years.

Regardless of how the trial will proceed, Hartmann assured the press that the charges sworn Monday were "only allegations" and that the accused will remain innocent until proven guilty.