9/11 Mastermind: I Killed Daniel Pearl
Suspected Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confessed to the beheading of American journalist Daniel Pearl and a central role in 30 other attacks and plots in the U.S. and worldwide that killed thousands of victims, said a revised transcript released Thursday by the U.S. military.
"I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew, Daniel Pearl, in the city of Karachi, Pakistan," Mohammed is quoted as saying in a transcript of a military hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, released by the Defense Department.
"For those who would like to confirm, there are pictures of me on the Internet holding his head," he added.
Mohammed's claimed involvement in the 2002 slaying of the Wall Street Journal reporter was among 31 attacks and plots — some of which never came to fruition — he took responsibility for in a hearing Saturday at the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Pentagon said.
It released the bulk of the transcript late Wednesday, but held back the section about Pearl's killing to allow time for his family to be notified, said Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman.
Sealing a legacy of historical notoriety, Mohammed portrayed himself as al Qaeda's most ambitious operational planner in a confession to a U.S. military tribunal.
The Guantanamo Bay hearing, known as a Combatant Status Review Tribunal, is a formality allowing the military to certify a detainee as an "enemy combatant" who warrants further detention and can be prosecuted by a military tribunal. In Mohammed's case, the prisoner made matters quite simple. "For sure, I'm American enemies," he said. "I don't have anything to say that I'm not enemy," reports CBS Evening News producer Phil Hirshkorn.
Mohammed's language offers what CBS news consultant Paul Kurtz says is a fascinating insight into the mastermind behind Sept. 11.
"He is a warrior, and he's taking on his enemy the way he sees fit," Kurtz tells CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. "He's sorry about losing 3,000 people over the World Trade Center attacks. Nonetheless, this is the language of war. He says that several times in the transcript."
Many plots, including a previously undisclosed plan to kill several former U.S. presidents, were never carried out or were foiled by international counterterrorism authorities.
"I was responsible for the 9/11 operation from A to Z," Mohammed said in a statement read Saturday during a Combatant Status Review Tribunal at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mohammed's confession was read by a member of the U.S. military who is serving as his personal representative.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. "I decapitated with my blessed right hand the head of the American Jew, Daniel Pearl, in the city of Karachi, Pakistan," Mohammed is quoted as saying in a transcript of a military hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, released by the Defense Department.
"For those who would like to confirm, there are pictures of me on the Internet holding his head," he added.
Mohammed's claimed involvement in the 2002 slaying of the Wall Street Journal reporter was among 31 attacks and plots — some of which never came to fruition — he took responsibility for in a hearing Saturday at the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, the Pentagon said.
It released the bulk of the transcript late Wednesday, but held back the section about Pearl's killing to allow time for his family to be notified, said Defense Department spokesman Bryan Whitman.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that it had learned that the transcripts released Wednesday evening had blacked out the reference to Mohammed's confession about the Pearl slaying. Pearl was abducted in January 2002 in Pakistan while researching a story on Islamic militancy. Mohammed has long been a suspect in the slaying, which was captured on video.
U.S. military transcripts of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed's confessions.
Sealing a legacy of historical notoriety, Mohammed portrayed himself as al Qaeda's most ambitious operational planner in a confession to a U.S. military tribunal.
The Guantanamo Bay hearing, known as a Combatant Status Review Tribunal, is a formality allowing the military to certify a detainee as an "enemy combatant" who warrants further detention and can be prosecuted by a military tribunal. In Mohammed's case, the prisoner made matters quite simple. "For sure, I'm American enemies," he said. "I don't have anything to say that I'm not enemy," reports CBS Evening News producer Phil Hirshkorn.
Mohammed's language offers what CBS news consultant Paul Kurtz says is a fascinating insight into the mastermind behind Sept. 11.
"He is a warrior, and he's taking on his enemy the way he sees fit," Kurtz tells CBS News national security correspondent David Martin. "He's sorry about losing 3,000 people over the World Trade Center attacks. Nonetheless, this is the language of war. He says that several times in the transcript."
Many plots, including a previously undisclosed plan to kill several former U.S. presidents, were never carried out or were foiled by international counterterrorism authorities.
"I was responsible for the 9/11 operation from A to Z," Mohammed said in a statement read Saturday during a Combatant Status Review Tribunal at the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mohammed's confession was read by a member of the U.S. military who is serving as his personal representative.
- no previous page
- next
1/2
Popular on CBSNews.com
- Oklahoma tornado victim search efforts winding down
- Children rescued from two elementary schools in Oklahoma 19 Photos
- Deadliest U.S. tornadoes 10 Photos
- Tornado's destructive path 17 Photos
- Up-close video of Moore, Okla., tornado Play Video
- Oklahoma tornado recovery grinds on amid grim scenes 178 Comments
- Oklahoma tornado as seen by storm chasers Play Video
- Twisters touch down in the Midwest 13 Photos
Yep, blame Bush. While you're at it, blame America too, and dem Jooz. Add the Christians too, while you're at it. Apologize to Al Qaeda for all of the wrongs America committed in the Middle East, including bringing Starbucks and McDonalds to the Mo Attas of the world.
Grow up, little roach lover.
As for Khalid - a public execution, with his cut-off head smeared with - what else, Emeril's favorite food - Pig fat - and thousands of photos of it dropped in terror camps throughout Iran, Iraq, Syria and the hills of Afghanistan and Pakistan might have a sobering effect on the rest of the Islamonazi roach population.
Otherwise, let's hang the b*stard, then drop poison gas on roach infested areas of Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan.
And hear little Jer and his equally treasonous pals Exlax, Skybozo, Blue Star Bigot, Loserman, and the rest of the Al Qaeda apologizing Nazi clique howl with rage. Maybe blame Bush and the Jooz too. As they usually do - the traitors.
you can come on out and play at the ranch now - you cheeky ummm sneaky little friend!
- Theodore Roosevelt
"Patriotism means to stand by the country. It doesn't mean to stand by the President or any other public official."
- Theodore Roosevelt
"Who is the bigger fool? The fool or the one who follows him?"
- Unknown
"A time comes when silence is betrayal."
- Rev. Martin Luther King
"You're not to be so blind with patriotism that you can't face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it."
- Malcolm X
"It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong."
-Voltaire (1694-1778)
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
- Thomas Jefferson
REOPEN THE 9/11 INVESTIGATION.
Unless someone is lying.
ST
Posted by SearingTruth
I don't disagree with you at all. My statement is that some neocons are acting like this guy just popped up out of the woodwork. Of course it requires a memory and a knowledge of history, but I recall reading about this guy pre-'90. He was listed as one of OBL's top lieutenants back then.
bm6005
Well then, my goodness. It should be very easy to convict him, in an American court according to the rules and laws set forth in the Constitution of the United States of America.
Unless someone is lying.
ST
A Future of the Brave - www.searingtruth.com
Did KFC tell The O-Word he wanted to blow up the WTC and The O-Word agreed? Or did both conspire together?
Or what if KFC here is lying? He's taken what sounds like sole responsibility for quite a few things...
Posted by HypnoToad72
Where'd you come from? This guy was OBL's top planner. We've known about it for over 17 years and we've known about his involvement for most of that time. None of this zip, nada, nein, zero is new.
What do you say now, Liberals?
Do you still not care that we caught him, or will you suddenly change your minds?
Posted by One_American
I could care less! Your rant shows how stupid you really are! He's a terrorist (a real one) and needs to be eliminated. What does this info have to do with anything pertinent to this? He's a scumbag who doesn't deserve to live. Now get over the fact that some other's political opinions can match yours. Sheeesh!