The Lingering Shadows of 9/11: Seeking Accountability and Closure

Two decades after their capture, the U.S. military commission’s “Trial of the Century” against the five accused leaders of the 9/11 attacks has encountered yet another setback, casting doubt on the pursuit of justice.

As the world marks the 22nd anniversary of the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the trial for the Guantanamo prisoners appears far from reaching a resolution.

Delays and the Looming Plea Deal

Earlier this year, it seemed like the trial was back on track, but in July, pre-trial hearings faced another delay. Then, in August, a shocking revelation came to light.

The Department of Defense disclosed that prosecutors in its Office of Military Commissions were contemplating a plea deal.

This potential deal would spare the lives of the self-admitted plot mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (widely known as KSM), and four alleged accomplices.

In exchange, they would admit guilt in the attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people on this somber 22nd-anniversary occasion.

The fate of this plea agreement remains uncertain.

A Pentagon letter sent to survivors and families of the 9/11 victims stated, “No pre-trial agreement has been finalized, and may never be finalized.”

However, it also alerted them that “it is possible that a PTA in this case would remove the possibility of the death penalty at sentencing” and sought their input.

Seeking Justice Amidst Betrayal

The possibility of a plea agreement has left many, including Terry Strada, a representative of numerous 9/11 families, feeling betrayed.

Strada expressed her frustration, stating that the families have already faced resistance in their efforts to investigate Saudi Arabia’s potential role in funding the attacks.

She said, “But the fact that there are now potential plea deals being offered right at the anniversary, it’s just a horrible, terrible feeling of betrayal.”

Strada’s husband, Tom, tragically lost his life on the 104th floor of the World Trade Center’s North Tower.

She added, “I mean, justice has not been served in two decades. How much more do they expect the families to be able to take? People are dying without seeing justice done.”

Presidential Response and the Quest for Answers

After the potential plea agreements drew sharp condemnation from families and lawmakers, President Joe Biden issued a statement.

He concurred with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s recommendation not to accept the proposed terms.

The White House affirmed its commitment to ensuring a fair military commissions process that delivers justice to victims, survivors, families, and the accused.

Like Terry Strada, former FBI Agent Frank Pellegrino, who spent decades investigating Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, desires transparency.

He wants the U.S. government to present its case in open court, establishing a public record based on the evidence collected over many years from around the world.

Pellegrino remains resolute, stating “I think the American people deserve to hear what the evidence is.”

Restarting Pre-Trial Proceedings

According to Lt. Cmdr. Adam Cole, a spokesman for the Pentagon’s Office of Military Commissions, prosecutors and defense lawyers will convene in Guantanamo as early as this week to restart the pre-trial court proceedings.

However, no trial date has been set, and frustrations continue to mount.

Colleen Kelly, whose younger brother Bill was also killed in the North Tower, acknowledged the potential benefits of allowing a plea agreement.

In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in December 2021, she stated, “We understand that in exchange for guilty pleas the government would in all likelihood no longer seek the death penalty; this would be in part in recognition of the torture each of the defendants experienced.”

Kelly added, “What we would hope to finally get, however, is answers to our questions about 9/11 from the defendants – answers and information that we have been denied for two decades.”

As the Guantanamo trial inches forward with uncertainty, the pursuit of justice and answers remains a deeply emotional and complex journey for the victims’ families and the world at large.

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USA Today