TOKYO, Japan (CNN) –Accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed "will be subject to the most exacting demands of justice," President Obama said Friday.
"The American people insist on it, and my administration will insist on it," Obama told reporters at a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
He was responding to a reporter's question about media reports that Mohammed will be tried in a federal court in New York, instead of by a military commission.
Obama would not confirm those reports, saying he did not want to preempt an announcement later in the day by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder.
Mohammed is the confessed organizer of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington. But his confession could be called into question during a trial. A 2005 Justice Department memo - released by the Obama administration - revealed he had been waterboarded 183 times in March 2003.
The controversial technique that simulates drowning has been called torture by Obama.
Mohammed is one of five defendants in the 9/11 attacks being held at the U.S. military detention center in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The other four are Ramsi Binalshibh, Walid Muhammed bin Attash, Ali Aziz Abdul Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi.
National Public Radio, citing "officials familiar with the situation," said all five defendants will be tried in the Southern District of New York - a short distance from where the twin World Trade Center towers once stood.
From CNN Politics
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It is undoubtdly unfortunate that the inherit fairness of the American Justice system will be lost on him and more than likley villified during his trial. He should be thankful that under a Military Justice System the rules of evidence introduction is different. He'll be treated much fairer in civilian criminal court although he never gave the same considerations of truth and justice to his victims.
We seem to be in denial that we are losing the wars in Iraq/Afghanistan and cant find Bin Laden, etc. 8 years is way too long and we have long been out of time. Very sad but true.
What a sham! This murdering terrorist thug gets the protection of our Constitution. Of course the liberals only defend the constitution for this use. Otherwise they run roughshod over it. Shameful and disgraceful. Turn them out in 2010 & 2012!!
This is a travesty. He is not a U.S. citizen and is not entitled to the rights guaranteed under our Constitution. He should go before a military tribunal. This is not justice for the U.S. citizens.
"... exacting demands .."??. Mr. President is playing with words again. What is he really saying?
Finally, "A President with a Brain"
This is just another glaring example of why Obmam is the biggest mistake since President Carter. He was at his peak on election day and unfortunately with these kind of decisions his approval rating is going to keep diving.
Why does Mr. Obama keep saying about this and other things "the American people insist on it" ? The American people insist that KSM be tried in Cuba by a military tribunal but the Obamist courts and Mr. Obama himself would rather be PC and bring him to NY CONTRARY TO THE WISHES OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. The same PC that brought about killings at Fort Hood. And Mr. Obama has yet to show any real emotional regret for that act of Islamic terrorism at a U.S. military base. Who is this man and what are his ultimate goals for our country ?
Well, the movie sucked, but welcome to "Idiocracy" under Obamalamadingdong.
Sounds like a great plan; try the 9/11 detainees in NY. That will be a field day for the defense lawyers telling the judge that their client can't get a fair trial in NY where the attack happened, filing discovery motions for surveillance records, motions to exclude evidence based on torture, and so forth and so on with every one of them grounds for appeal to the Supreme Court.
And who will pay for all these teams of high profile defense lawyers and prosecuting attorneys? You got it, the American taxpayer. Maybe Obama will pay for it out of the stimulus funds and count it as a few more jobs created or saved. Let's see, there's the lawyer, his three clerks, his secretary, the cab driver to and from the courthouse, the waitress at lunch, the dry cleaner of his suit, etc. Could boost the total from 640,000 to an even 700,000 jobs by their math.
Better a federal court in NY than a military court: a military court would allow him to enter the room, declare him GUILTY, decapitate him immediately, and declare that JUSTICE HAS BEEN DONE...
Military justice has always been a very, very bad JOKE!
The time has long past to bring this idiot, Mohammed, to justice.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is the alleged mastermind of 911.
It was reported that Osama Bin Laden was the mastermind of 911.
Confusing!
We expect no less than a fair trial that meets the demands of our system. I think this guy is probably guilty, but I don't know that every prisoner we hold is guilty. I don't know who they are and what they supposedly did.
It is better to let a thousand guilty men go free than to convict one innocent man. Anyone who disagrees with this should be sentenced to life in prison.
What will he have to do listen to you try and speak with out your teleprompter! Now that would be torture. Ah Iiii eh am ahhhh ehhhh spead the wealth.
I trust our justice system and the correctional facility that will hold these terrorists. I don't have any doubt in my mind that these horrible people will never see another free day in their lives. They should be tried in New York!
He should be charged in federal court and his confession should stand. if this animal is released then we will some alot more dead Americans and their blood will be on THIS administrations hands.
Good job to all those involved in bringing these guys to justice. Too bad the Cheney practice of waterboarding gives Mohammed the perfect defense in court. I believe he is probably guilty. But face it– YOU would confess to being a 9-11 terrorist if you were being waterboarded.
Torturing is not only illegal, but it is worthless. Tortured prisoners will say anything, true or not, that they think the interogators want to hear.
Oh, and I bet some right-winger fruitcake tries to spin this story to make anti-Obama comments. But those guys would criticize Obama if he went to Pakistan and caught Bin Laden with his own bare hands.
"Let me be clear – if found guilty, I have instructed Attorney General Holder that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will not have expanded cable service installed in his jail cell. And he better not even think about HD channels. In these tough economic times, basic cable will suffice. Let this be a lesson to all would-be perpetrators of man-made acts of violence against American interest."
He was charged under U.S. military commission in accordnece with the The United States Military Commissions Act of 2006.
You can't just change the law............wait, where did I hear that before?
Seriously DEMOCRATS...why are we going to have law if you're not going to follow them?
Just because Obama didn't vote for USMC Act of 2006 DOES NOT MEAN HE CAN IGNORE IT!
great job, ZERO! obama is an incompetent fool.
What a stupid decision. Obama must really hate our country.
He should be set on fire and forced to jump off the top of a skyscraper.
Bush/Cheney crimes will come out hot and heavy. I can hardly wait for those two to be tried for THEIR crimes.
Good, it is time we dispelled the notion that the US justice system cannot conduct justice. Now all we have to do is sit back and watch to see how badly the Bush administration messed up the evidence.
And what will happen should it be decided that this murderer gave up information under torture? It appears this administration is more interested in going after Bush and Cheney than going after justice. The victims of 911 families should be outraged over this very dangerous move.
Finally! Let's 'process' these individuals via the courts, and move on.
I could never clearly udnerstand what the delay was all about in doing this. Besides the fact that we were torturing them, of course.
I am EXTREMELY happy about the seizure here in Md, NY, and other states , of property owned by an Islamic group that was sending funds back to Iran to fund illegal activities. Among those properties a 36 story high -rise in midtown Manhattan. Kaching!
My question why does Eric Holder give the announcement....why did our president not announce this heinous decision with Holder standing by his side in the White House....another orchestrated bad announcement made while he goes to Asia...for no particularly good reason. Holder needs to resign....effective immediately.
Not in civilian court!! He will have top billed lawyers to reduce down anything he receives!
Liberals are wrong for America
Curious to hear this administration's detractors put a negative spin on this story, and the Prez.. The creativity of Obama haters should be bottled and sold.
Score–Terrorists 3014+1.......USA...0..another victory for far left and terrorism. Watch and weep.
Journalist should know by now that you CANNOT trick an intelligent man into responding to HEARSAY – especially a man who calculates and takes his time to make decisions instead of RUSHING to judgment!!!
President Obama – thank you for taking your time to make decisions... AND, Colin Powell gave you some GOOD advice. No matter what the RIGHT says or the LEFT – the decisions regarding Afghanistan are YOURS and you have enough knowledge and INTELLIGENCE to make the RIGHT decision!!
YES WE CAN!!!
not only will AMERICA get justice but so will the world
and the PRESIDENT will make sure of it
proud to be an american
gary davis
harbor oregon
yeah...he'll get the most stern apology that Obama has offered to anyone.....
I hope the real truth about 9/11 comes out now
He should have already been executed !
I'm surprised that obama didn't add that we should not jump to any conclusions about Islam being that Khalid Mohammed is a Muslim and could have been suffering from a post stress syndrome of some sort which made him do it.
Of course, with the Military intelligence and the FBI doing investigations we know that the murderer will be brought to Justice.
However, nothing President Obama says will be good enough for the far-right-folks!
ok, let's see how long it will be before the republican's start complaining about this
When he reaches American soil, Michael Steele will make him an honorary Republican, and the case will be tied up in court for years....like the senatorial election in Minnesota. He has all the same "family values" as Republicans.Both want American soldiers and citizens to die! I bet he also cheered when America lost the bid for the Olympic Games, just as the RNC and Beck, Hannity, Limbaugh, and O'Reilley did. Mohammad/Palin 2012
This decision by Obama and Holder to try prisoners of war in civilian courts and the final insult, to do so in NYC is the absolute height of stupidity and outrage. It's nothing but an opportunity for the prisoners to mock the USA and the victims of the terror attack on the World Trade Center. This is a terrible decision and we will rue the day it was made.
Yes now the terrorist are going to be put on a world stage just like they wanted.
Stupid liberals.
Death by firing squad---–
Torture is having this guy as President.
nobama will end up apologizing to the muslims for their attacks on our country. It's our fault.
It has been evident from the day that obama took over the White House then installed holder as attorney general that they would never allow those detainees to be tried in military court. All indications are that the administration would like nothing more than to pay these people reparations and set them free. Then set about the process of prosecuting their captors
Funny that no one I have spoken to agrees, if fact most think the move is insane. That is unless you were only trying to protect a brother.
I don't know why heis saying all this. American people need to wake up that Osama Bin Laden and these people is not what our government wants. They want control of the oil pipeline across Afghanistan and will claim it at all cost. The same motive for war in Iraq. Besides no one wants to capture Osama Bin Laden alive. He has too much to tell on the Iran-Contra affair. Ask EX-LTC OLIVER NORTH. Therefore there is no search going on for the man. You tell me the greatest army in the world can't find one man.
Are you going to get him a teaching job at Columbia?
More oduble-speak by the great sympathizer...now he can start painting the terrorists as victims...fastest poll drops in history...well the media did help him run his con on the American people...