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November 10, 2011

Cole Bombing Suspect Appears for Gitmo Tribunal 
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The main suspect in the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole has appeared before a
U.S. military tribunal after nearly a decade behind bars at Guantánamo
Bay, Cuba. Abd al-Nashiri was arraigned Wednesday on charges of
overseeing the planning of the October 2000 bombing, which killed 17
sailors and wounded 40 others. His case marks the first death-penalty
war crimes trial at Guantánamo under President Obama, despite Obama’s
pledge to close the prison. Nashiri has claimed he confessed to the
U.S.S. Cole bombing after undergoing repeated torture in U.S. custody.
Chief prosecutor Mark Martins discussed the charges against Nashiri.

Mark Martins: "According to the charges referred to trial by military
commission, Mr. al Nashiri planned the complex series of attacks, known
as the 'boats operation,' with Osama bin Laden and Khalled bin Attash
and carried them out with various forms of assistance and participation
from 23 other named individuals. According to the charges, Mr. al
Nashiri made extensive preparations to implement the al Qaeda 'boats
operation,' some of which he accomplished personally and some of which
he directed others to accomplish."



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