Pentagon censors 9/11 suspect's tape

[AlCzervik]

Source: AP

By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Writer 3 minutes ago
The Pentagon has censored an audio tape of the suspected mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks speaking at a military hearing — cutting out Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's explanation for why Islamic militants waged jihad against the United States.

After months of debate by several federal agencies, the Defense Department released the tape Thursday. Cut from it were 10 minutes of the more than 40-minute closed court session at Guantanamo Bay to determine whether Mohammed should be declared an "enemy combatant."

Since the March hearing, he has been assigned "enemy combatant" status, a classification the Bush administration says allows it to hold him indefinitely and prosecute him at a military tribunal.

Officials from the CIA, FBI, State Department and others listened to the tape and feared it could be copied and edited by other militants for use as propaganda, officials said.

"It was determined that the release of this portion of the spoken words of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed would enable enemies of the United States to use it in a way to recruit or encourage future terrorists or terrorist activities," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman. "This could ultimately endanger the lives and physical safety of American citizens and those of our allies."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070913/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/sept11_confession_audio&printer=1;_ylt=AiM8FOnvCFhWBttorjkTwweWwvIE

[BanzaiBonnie]

1. OMG words are dangerous?

Someone tape up GWBs mouth --- quick, before it goes off again.

[trusty elf]

2. Good idea!

Whoops, missed his mouth!

[TomInTib]

6. That is abso-effing-lutely hilarious!

Great job.

[trusty elf]

8. I'm tickled!

Thanks!

I like the Twain quote. He's one of my heros.

[KansDem]

7. He needs his mouth free so he may take nourishment...

[trusty elf]

9. That's true, but....

with his nose taped up he's in big trouble.

[TexasLawyer]

3. They hate us for our freedom!

Why cut out Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's explanation for why Islamic militants waged jihad against the United States?

They hate us for our freedom!

:sarcasm:We already know what he must have said!:sarcasm:

[AlCzervik]

4. it's amazing isn't it, if they really hated us for our "Freedom™" you would think

the Pentagon and Bush would be uber excited to let the tape play.

[Roland99]

5. Hmm...wouldn't have to do with US (esp. CIA) involvement in aggressive coups/assassinations?

I mean, the US only changed or helped change the governments of just about every freakin' country on the face of the earth! Esp. the Middle East in the 50s!

[heliarc]

13. More likely, CIA collusion with Heroin Trafficking.

The Afghanistan "liberation" put Osama on our side back then

[superkia]

10. Could we atleast see a transcript?

[CGowen]

11. Wasn't he speaking through a personal representative? His words didn't appear in the transcript

Okay his words did appear
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2007/images/03/14/transcript_ISN10024.pdf

[HuffleClaw]

12. clearly they are hiding some unpleasant facts

hopefully it'll be released at some point.

[democrat2thecore]

14. Hmmmmm........

"...cutting out Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's explanation for why Islamic militants waged jihad against the United States."

Because he didn't say it was because of our freedoms.

[countmyvote4real]

15. Does the Pentagon think they have the only copy? Duh.

This tape many others are already being used to recruit.

The bottom line is that they don't want the American people to see an explantion for why the US is targeted for attack.

[Drix]

16. Hey Wait A Minute!

What's the point of any confession without an explanation for the act commited? As twisted or delusional as any criminal might be, the whole point of a confession is to get to the reasons why.

Suppose a family member was brutally murdered. The killer is caught and confesses. You ask the police why did they so brutally kill your family member and they say, "He told us, but we're not going to tell you".
I and most anyone else would go ballistic.

Their BS excuse that it be used it in a way to recruit or encourage future terrorists or terrorist activities, is a big load of crap! You can say that about ANY news concerning the war.

[piesRsquare]

17. Take it easy, folks

They cut the audio, but the statement is in the transcript. See post #11 for link.