Attorney General Eric Holder will announce today that the five suspects most closely tied to the September 11th attacks will be moved to New York City and tried in civilian courts. The suspects include: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Waleed bin Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi, and Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has confessed to masterminding the plot, selling it to bin-Laden, and working out the logistics.
Waleed bin Attash is accused of involvement in the 1998 African Embassy bombings, the 2000 attack on the USS Cole, and of recruiting some of the so-called ‘muscle hijackers.’
Ramzi Binalshibh was a member of the Hamburg cell who attempted to enter the United States for pilot training but was rejected. He worked as a liaison between Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Mohammed Atta.
Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi allegedly financed the hijackers from the United Arab Emirates and facilitated the travel of the ‘muscle hijackers.’
Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali (aka Ammar al-Baluchi) is accused of providing logistical support for the hijackers, as well as cultural training for their time spent in America.
These five detainees are the so-called worst of the worst. Much of the evidence against them is tainted by torture. However, there remains banking, travel, and electronic records that can implicate them. If these men can be tried in civilian courts then it is hard to see why all of the detainees cannot be tried in civilian courts. I hope the Obama administration gets credit for this from the same people who have been justly critical of them on these issues so far.
In related news, President Obama’s legal counsel, Greg Craig, is being replaced by Anita Dunn’s husband, Bob Bauer.
Let’s see if the Republicans and Harry Reid throw another fit over the horror of bringing al-Qaeda suspects to the United States for trial.
