Gitmo Prisoners Ask to Confess at War-Crimes Tribunal

In an unusual twist, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, has told a military judge that he wants to confess to his crimes immediately at a war-crimes tribunal. Mohammed was joined in his request by four co-defendants. Apparently, all five of the detainees decided on November 4, the day Barack Obama was elected president, that they were going to move to speed along the war crimes trial and cease efforts to defend themselves against capital charges.

Mohammed, as well as another defendant, noted last summer at their arraignment that they would welcome execution and the supposed martyrdom it would bring. Word that they were giving up their defense, however, came as a shock to many of the family members of victims of the 9/11 attacks, some of whom were on hand to view the proceedings at which Mohammed and his alleged co-conspirators made their unusual request. That request, made in writing and read aloud by the judge in the courtroom, noted that the defendants "request an immediate hearing session to announce our confessions."

The request comes at an odd time, and must certainly make those charged with the security of the nation wonder at the motive. President-elect Obama has vowed to end the military commissions – the name given the Guantanamo trials – and further notes that he will work to close the detention center on Gitmo. A pentagon spokesperson, asked about Obama’s apparent commitment to end the Gitmo interrogations and trials, noted, "We serve the sitting president and will continue to do so until President-elect Obama takes office."