All five of the so-called high valued detainees appeared in the courtroom. They are all dressed in white, with various head coverings. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged 9/11 mastermind, was wearing a white turban. He looks old and has a big, puffy gray beard. Ramzi Binalshibh, who was wearing a black skull cap, was shackled to the floor .
Before proceedings began, the judge explained that there would be a 20 second delay in broadcasting the proceedings from the sound-proof courtroom into the spectators galley, where we sit. This, he explained, was being done for national security reasons – this way, if anything classified was stated, the court would be able to ensure that we didn’t hear it.
The first order of business was for the judge to explain to the accused their rights to defense counsel. Both Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Ramzi Binalshibh said they wanted to represent themselves, but that they wanted to have stand-by counsel, which wouldn’t be able to intervene in court, but could provide advice. There seems to be some question as to whether or not civilian counsel will be permitted to play that role.
When Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was given a chance to speak, he broke out into song – chanting Koranic verses. He has a very nice voice actually. The point of his chanting was to say that he rejects American law and that it is god who will decide his fate. He made it clear that he didn’t want counsel and that he had put his trust in Allah, not American law. He also said he considered US laws to be evil, and made reference to the United States allowing same sex marriage.
The judge let him chant for a while, then stopped him and said he was not being responsive to the question at hand.
Mohammed then compared the Guantanamo court to an inquisition and said that he had undergone “five years of torture.”
Joanne Mariner - Terrorism and Counterterrorism Expert
June 4, Fort Lauderdale:
12:30 hrs
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The airport here is full of family groups in shorts and t-shirts, sunburned and happy, on their way to or from their beach vacations. Our flight to Guantanamo isn't listed on the board, and Air Sunshine, the airline that flies there, is hidden away in a remote corner. With our laptop computers, Blackberries, and bags overstuffed with files, the small group of human rights observers and habeas counsel that I’m part of feels very unfun. But I did bring a bathing suit.
At the check in counter, the Air Sunshine employee whispers something to me. “What?” I ask, and he whispers again. Finally he whispers a little more loudly: it’s my weight he needs. The plane is small enough that every pound has to be counted.
When we go outside I see that it is, indeed, a very small plane: 12 seats and two propellers. No safety check, no metal detectors – we just get on. After the flight attendant recites the safety instructions, he climbs over into the co-pilot seat and grabs ahold of the wheel. We take off, and the plane reluctantly chugs up to altitude.
We arrive at Guantanamo in the early evening, flying though spectacularly puffy clouds. We’re staying a motel-like structure on the leeward-side of the bay; the hearings will take place on the windward-side tomorrow.
More updates available throughout the hearings.
