Legalities
Life, Politics and the Law From ABC News Correspondent Jan Crawford Greenburg
Jan Crawford Greenburg is a correspondent for ABC News' bureau in Washington DC. She covers politics, the Supreme Court and provides legal analysis for ABC News. She is a graduate of the University of Chicago's law school and is a member of the New York bar.
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Shock, Relief for 9/11 Families at Gitmo
December 09, 2008 12:29 PM
For seven years, Maureen Santora has waited to hear the words. But she hadn't expected them now, just moments after she took her seat in a special courtroom on the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
"We want to enter our plea," said Kahlid Sheikh Mohammed, the admitted mastermind of the worst terrorist attack ever on U.S. soil. "We do not want to waste time with motion and motion."
"We request for a special session to plead our guilt," added Mustafa al Hawsawi, who allegedly helped the hijackers with money, western clothing and credit cards.
The words came as a shock, and then a relief, to Santora. Her son Christopher was a New York City firefighter who was killed in the attacks. She and her husband Al, a retired firefighter, were with a small group of victims' families, who were selected by a lottery and flown to Guantanamo to sit in the courtroom for hearings this week.
It was an extraordinary day of emotions for the families. It began with what some said they had dreaded: seeing for, the first time, KSM and the other four men suspected of organizing the worst terrorist attack in American history.
For nearly eight hours, they sat in the same room, watching them talk, pass notes back and forth, laugh and rant about the United States. They stared at five men most of the time, holding photographs of their loved ones, writing down notes or sketching the suspects' faces as they talked. Some cried as they thought of what the men had taken from them and 2,972 other families.
It ended with a press conference that proved upsetting on an entirely different level, with the families thrust into the firestorm of the controversy over the future of Guantanamo. All the families praised the system created at Guantanamo to try the suspects, and said they wanted President-elect Obama to keep it open and continue the trials here.
But in another press conference afterward, the terror suspects' American lawyers -- long critical of what they see as glaring inadequacies and frustrated by a day in which their clients ignored their advice and tried to plead guilty -- continued their harsh criticism of the system and the Bush Administration.
One, Chicagoan Thomas Durkin, went further, calling yesterday's events, with families at the hearing, nothing more than "show trial" that was orchestrated to "blackmail" Obama into keeping Guantanamo open.
That was too much for Maureen Santora, who whispered, "I can't take this." She and her husband Al stood up and left the room.
They said they weren't here for politics. Some of the families said their presence at Guantanamo was, in some says, no different than all the mothers and fathers who must sit through trials and confront their children's killers back home in the United States every day.
But the scale of the attacks, they said, also made it completely different. And so they came, they said, because they wanted to see what they considered the faces of evil.
And they spent the exhausting, draining day also remembering the faces of the good.
Throughout the hearing, Maureen clutched a photograph of Christopher, because she said she wanted him to be a part of the proceedings. Al held dozens of "Mass cards" -- laminated memorial photographs -- of other firefighters killed in September 11th.
Maureen said when KSM offered to confess his guilt, she nearly jumped up and down with joy -- and she imagined Christopher, looking down from above, was smiling.
Hamilton Peterson, whose father and stepmother were killed on United Flight 93 when it crashed in Pennsylvania, also was there.
"When I saw him, I thought of the World Trade Center. I thought of the pregnant mother, jumping out of that burning tower," said Peterson, his voice breaking and his eyes flooding with tears.
He paused to compose himself, then he said, in a quiet voice: "I thought of Flight 93, with my father and stepmother on board."
Alice Hoagland's son Mark Bingham also was killed on Flight 93, which crashed short of its target after Bingham and other passengers stormed the cockpit. She spent the hearing staring at the suspects and sketching their faces on her notepad. She said it was "excruciating" to see them.
The families had expected a routine hearing on various motions, and they had braced themselves for rants from the terrorists about the United States. But yesterday, they watched as the five men instead made their surprising request.
They wanted to confess to planning the worst terrorist attacks ever in America.
They referred to themselves as "brothers" and told the judge in a letter they want "announce our confessions, plead in full." They suggested they want to be put to death.
The judge now is considering whether the men legally can plead guilty and avoid trial in a capital case. He has asked the government and the defense attorneys to file papers on the issue, and could possibly accept the guilty pleas early next year.
For the families, the circumstances under which the judge can or cannot accept those pleas is just legal procedure. Having witnessed their attempted confessions, they have no questions about guilt.
But they also said they had no questions about that before they ever arrived in this place.
December 9, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (19)
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A damn good piece Jan. In fact the best in a while!
Posted by: liberal hater | Dec 9, 2008 1:09:36 PM
I am not suprised that they acted the way they did. I have read of many Muslim that have done exactly the same thing and asked for the same sentence. I am glad they have chosen to do so! As a Christian I would expect hope I would have the same strength of conviction, but as a Christian I would not do what they did. I pray for all envolved.
Posted by: William | Dec 9, 2008 1:24:13 PM
I hope they DON'T put these scumbags to death. That's what they want, to die a "martyr". Oh, no. Put them in the worst hellhole prison in America, put them in with the worst of the worst, and let them live the rest of their miserable lives surrounded by the people they hate the most. That would be true punishment...
Posted by: Carl | Dec 9, 2008 1:32:21 PM
I also agree with Carl. Do not put these men to death and thereby glorifying themselves. Leave them rot in jail for the rest of their long miserable lives.
Posted by: Laura | Dec 9, 2008 1:47:32 PM
The fact is the WTC was built better than most skyscrapers. The WTC was built to withstand a plane hitting it, however, not as big as a 747. The heat from the jet fuel that exploded on impact melted the steel and bent it. The WTC was built to implode on it's self (which it did). The fact is, terrorists slammed 2 747's into two different buildings, stocked with full tanks of jet fuel.....anything it hit would have been destroyed!
Posted by: Michelle | Dec 9, 2008 1:47:34 PM
TO those who lost loved ones in the WTC attacks I hope this can bring som esort of closure. May those men who planned these attacks rot in hell for all eternity!
Posted by: Michelle | Dec 9, 2008 1:49:18 PM
Yea William!!! You hit the nail right on the head. They do want to receive the death penalty because in their eyes they are martyrs, not murders. Well, I am not sorry to say that I would work to pay taxes to house their butts in the stinkest, crappiest prison (and we've got plenty)for the rest of their natural lives!! They deserve nothing: they've have earned a punishment worthy of a horror movie.
Posted by: Danee | Dec 9, 2008 2:08:01 PM
Remember Jesus said LOVE YOUR ENEMY. JUDGE NOT LEAST YOU BE JUDGED.
Posted by: Democrat All My LIfe | Dec 9, 2008 2:13:38 PM
They should not be put to death but rather life in prison.I think they should build set of thick Lexan rooms at ground zero. Put each of them there for all to see. Give them 3 meals a day and nothing else. They world be there for the world to look at for what they did.
Posted by: Clayton | Dec 9, 2008 2:24:43 PM
If Guantanomo Bay, aka Club Gitmo, received this much negative press, I can only imagine what the Islamists and the press will do to a lifetime prison sentence for these roaches. They will want the best resort like settings for these men and will constantly complain about how well they are treated by USA. It is better to save everyone the headache and let them go to meet their virgins and their god as soon as possible. Put them to death. They took 3000 lives. They should pay with theirs. Life itself is a privilege and a gift. Do not let them live longer.
Posted by: Life in Prison is Bad | Dec 9, 2008 2:30:27 PM
DAML, remember "Thou shall not kill"?
Posted by: Jazz | Dec 9, 2008 2:32:41 PM
Conspiracy theorists: Steel weakens under heat. Check out a structural engineering book or two, or even basic architecture 101. Steel weakens under heat. -- interior designer
Posted by: Debra Congram | Dec 9, 2008 2:37:35 PM
I am sick of people posting biblical verses taken out of context. These verses refer to individuals. The Bible has recognizes a nation's right to exercise capital punishment and to protect itself.
Posted by: Sick | Dec 9, 2008 2:37:47 PM
Danne - that is a conditional statement. We HAVE been judged, and condemned. We are entitled to self defense, by the Book, by the Constitution, and by the lives of the innocents who may yet be killed if we do not act.
As for the "shalt not kill" it should read "shalt not murder" and it is not murder to execute murderers of innocent men, women and children, non-combatants in an undeclared war.
Posted by: Terry | Dec 9, 2008 3:17:58 PM
September 11 was a very tragic day and my preyers are with those families. But as I read these comments I can not believe you people. You might as well be just like the terriost. The deceitful ideas you come up with, c'mon thats right up their with Sadam. Look we have our right to free speach but we should be careful of what comes out of our mouths.
"Its funny how we believe what the newspaper says, but we question what the bible says."
Posted by: Joy | Dec 10, 2008 11:29:40 AM
You do know that the CIA is holding KSM's children, don't you, counselor?
"Two young sons of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the suspected mastermind of the September 11 attacks, are being used by the CIA to force their father to talk."
"Last night CIA interrogators confirmed that the boys were staying at a secret address where they were being encouraged to talk about their father's activities."
And you trust his "confession"?
Posted by: roo | Dec 11, 2008 8:54:08 AM
Here it is again--no links, just their WORDS:
9/11 Victims' Families Challenge Legitimacy Of Guantánamo Military Commissions (12/10/2008)
"As family members who lost loved ones on 9/11, we feel compelled to speak out about this week's proceedings at Guantánamo. Recently, the Guantánamo military commissions office announced that victims' family members would be permitted, on a lottery basis, to attend the Guantánamo legal hearings of those accused of planning the 9/11 attacks. The lottery system inherently results in the granting of media attention to the select few who are chosen, and whose views are not necessarily representative of all victims' families. The media coverage of Monday's commission hearings included statements attributed to attending family members that the tribunals provided a fair hearing for these prosecutions and that family members "were struck by the extensive rights accorded the accused men."
While we support everyone's right to their individual opinions about these proceedings, including, of course, other family members who have suffered the devastation we have, we also feel obliged to make clear that many of us do not believe these military commissions to be fair, in accordance with American values, or capable of achieving the justice that 9/11 family members and all Americans deserve.
We believe that the secretive and unconstitutional nature of these proceedings deprive us of the right to know the full truth about what happened on 9/11. These prosecutions have been politically motivated from the start, are designed to ensure quick convictions at the expense of due process and transparency, and are structured to prevent the revelation of abusive interrogations and torture engaged in by the U.S. government. Unfortunately, any verdict borne of these proceedings will lack legitimacy and leave us wondering if true justice has been served. No comfort or closure can come from military commissions that ignore the rule of law and stain America's reputation at home and abroad.
We are strongly encouraged by the incoming administration's promise to end this shameful system, and we are hopeful for a fresh start for these and all other Guantánamo prosecutions in U.S. courts worthy of American justice. It is time for our nation to stop betraying its own values – and the values of so many who died on 9/11."
Anne M. Mulderry, Kinderhook, New York, mother of Stephen V. Mulderry
Terry Kay Rockefeller, Arlington, MA, sister of Laura Rockefeller
J. William Harris, Arlington, MA, brother-in-law of Laura Rockefeller
Loretta Filipov, Concord, MA, wife of Alexander M. Filipov
Alissa Torres, New York, NY, wife of Luis Eduardo Torres
Bob McIlvaine, Oreland, PA, father of Bobby McIlvaine
Wright Salisbury, Lexington, MA, father-in-law of Edward Hennessy, Jr.
Barbara and Jim Fyfe, Durham, NC, parents of Karleton Douglas Beye Fyfe
Robyn Bernstein, Bolton, MA, daughter of Roberta Bernstein Heber
Patricia J. and James L. Perry, M.D., Seaford, NY, parents of NYPD officer John W. Perry
Rita Lasar, New York, NY, sister of Abraham Zelmanowitz
Valerie Lucznikowska, New York, NY, aunt of Adam Arias
Marion Kminek, Cape Coral, FL, mother of Mari-Rae Sopper
Kate Walsh Calton, Tampa, FL, wife of James Walsh
Beverly Eckert, Stamford, CT, wife of Sean Rooney
Monica Gabrielle, wife of Richard Gabrielle
Lorie Van Auken, wife of Kenneth Van Auken
Dr. Robin S. Theurkauf, wife of Thomas Theurkauf
Andrea N. LeBlanc, Lee, NH, wife of Robert G. LeBlanc
Frank Tatum, Stillwater, NY, son of Diane Moore Parsons
Antonio Aversano, Hadley, MA, son of Louis F. Aversano, Jr.
Nissa Youngren, Rochester, NY, daughter of Robert G. LeBlanc
Paula Shapiro, Pala, CA, mother of Eric Adam Eisenberg
Patricia Casazza, wife of John Casazza
Mindy Kleinberg, wife of Alan Kleinberg
Sheila Rooney, Fayetteville, NY, sister of Sean Rooney
Rosemary Dillard, wife of Eddie A. Dillard
Blake Allison, Lyme, NH, husband of Anna S.W. Allison
Roxanna K. Myhrum, Cambridge, MA, niece of Sean Rooney
Posted by: brother | Dec 12, 2008 7:38:12 AM
Jan,
Your story casts a bright light of
truth on the darkness of politics today.
Your story and interview restores hope
to those who seek not revenge, but jsutice. Families have the right to
face those who killed loved ones.
Guantanamo serves a purpose.
Do our political leaders hear these
people?
Posted by: DAB | Jan 16, 2009 12:55:12 PM
Look there is a state that practice true justice in the United States its name is Texas. Send the scumbags down to Texas,do not worry about the friend of the unions,Senator Cornyn. His buddy and replacement at the Texas Attorney General office will handle evrything if he need any help on the federal level United States Attorney Johnny K. Sutton. The scum have their own advocates Jim Harrington of the Texas Civil Rights Project, there specialty is illegal aliens, criminal aliens, and to violate the rights of Americans.
Posted by: Jesus Warrior | Jan 30, 2009 1:40:00 PM
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