Katie Couric's Notebook: 9/11 Mastermind

By: Katie Couric
Topics: Katie Couric's Notebook

Our criminal justice system is based on the concept that criminal defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty...that they have the right to a fair trial.

That sounds good on paper, but what if the accused is Khalid Sheikh Mohammed?

Attorney General Eric Holder's decision to try the admitted 9/11 mastermind - and four alleged co-conspirators in a civilian courtroom in New York City is controversial at the very least.

Some Republicans, including former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, say the Obama administration is giving terrorists too many rights and a platform for their radical ideology.

But 9/11 widow Kristen Breitweiser supports the decision, saying New Yorkers and families like hers - want to see these men publicly brought to justice - to finally have closure.

And so just blocks from the scene of the crime, justice will be served - a right nearly three-thousand Americans lost on 9/11.

That's a page from my notebook.

I'm Katie Couric, CBS News.

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by Omni-Present101 November 25, 2009 9:34 AM EST: I wish you had these same Concerns during the Twin Tower Bombings and the People who "Master Minded" that Terrorist Act.

Do you Honestly want Americans, New Yorkers, in Particular to Run, Hide, Shake, Shiver & Cower on their Knees for KSM ?

If so, You are Sadly Mistaken.

He's Admitted to the Heinous Crimes, He's Already been Convicted, He Wants the Death Penalty and he Will get what he Deserves.

KSM will get his and He Will NEVER be Released, No Matter what, No How, No Way.

If You want others to believe this Rag Tag of Low Life's to Rule Your World, So be it, but as for Most People in America, he will Not Make U.S. Citizens Feel Scared To Death in our Own Homes.

We're Americans, Living America, We're Not going to let this Maniac and his Accomplices Make us Fearful in our Own [Land]

The Terrorist Win, when People Fear Them.

"That's a Page from My Book"; Reply to this comment


by rodeorocky November 22, 2009 10:14 PM EST: Wow - Why didn't you mention the democrats that are opposed to these men being tried in a civil court system. Do you know who they are? New York Governor Paterson and Senator Webb from Virginia. While I completely understand the desire to see these men publicly brought to justice, doing it in our civilian courts that is reserved for U.S. Citizens is not the place. This was an act of war and should be treated as such!; Reply to this comment


by lorissong November 22, 2009 8:27 PM EST: American Woman held captive in Iran and story goes unnoticed or just plain IGNORED!
I would like to know why it is so difficult for me to get my story out about Iran and being held captive in a POW camp for six weeks, out to the public. My local newspaper has written about it twice my book was published in July of 2009, but I've never had a chance to tell my story on national news. It took me eight years to complete this story due to my severed injuries and the aftermath. I still suffer daily with PTSD, and have seizures due to head injuries.
I also had internal injuries due to the rapes and a rifle barrel incident. The govt. paid my way home after I escaped on Nov. 14th 2001 I was flown home only after agreeing to sign a non-disclosure agreement by our embassy.
CNN told me they couldn't tell my whole story at that time or the public would demand a war with Iran and they couldn't afford it at that time (since it was right after 9/11).
I would also like to add that after writing cbs I was told by one of their staff representatives (and I have the letter to prove it) that my story was outdated and boring. So this person is saying all those who have lost someone or something during the 9/11 incident well their stories are outdated and boring. I'm sure this is something our troops would love to hear. I was put into that camp the DAY AFTER 9/11.
I have been ignored by CNN, condemned by CBS, and still my story only goes as far as I'm willing to pay to promote it. My book proceeds are also going to charities such as Amnesty International.
If you have any questions for me or about my experience please email me at
lori@loris-song dot com
My book is LORI'S SONG by Lori Foroozandeh available thru amazon and my website:
www.loris-song.com

I would appreciate any help I could get at getting this story out to the public!
Lori Foroozandeh; Reply to this comment


by TheQuantumSociologist November 22, 2009 12:02 PM EST: Peace Katie, You are a great News Anchor! Doesn't is seem that the number of social, political, and environmental fires that need to be put out are increasing? And that they are being increasingly difficult to extinguish. In my humble opinion this trend will continue until we realize that humanity has reached a point in our development where we are in need of a Prime Directive to plot our future course and to prescribe our current and future choices.

Every species of life has a Prime Directive built into its genetic code. Most forms of life follow their Prime Directive instinctively and without significant variation or deviance. The human animal is different. Humans have, in our minds, elevated ourselves above our fundamental nature, have imagined ourselves separate from the ecosystem of which we are a part and upon which we are mutually dependent, and we have forgotten the process, the importance, and the benefits of Creating Peaceful Space. Without a Prime Directive chaos is inevitable.

The Prime Directive is the foundational principle or mandate for our journey in the world. Without an umbrella directive that embraces all humankind our cultural traditions, religious ideologies, political philosophies, and racial and ethnic divisions will continue to breed conflict. Creating Peaceful Space is a natural progression of the Prime Directive.

THE PRIME DIRECTIVE OF THE HUMAN SPECIES

TO SEEK PLEASURE AND AVOID PAIN FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS, TO TRANSFORM NEGATIVE ENERGY INTO POSITIVE ENERGY THROUGH YOUR CONDUCT IN THE WORLD, AND TO NURTURE LIFE AND STRUGGLE AGAINST DEATH FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PLANET AND THE COEXISTENCE OF ALL LIVING THINGS.

It could take generations for universal acceptance but it seems clear to me that unless we begin to move in that direction we face what for many is the unthinkable.; Reply to this comment


by whereisthemedia November 19, 2009 7:21 PM EST: here you go - check out this link of the hundreds of 9/11 families OPPOSED to this. Again, I think you found the one 9/11 family for federal court use.

http://thebravest.com/ObamaLetter110909.htm; Reply to this comment


by whereisthemedia November 19, 2009 5:53 PM EST: One last comment, Katie. Good job finding one of the few victim families in NYC who want this to occur in NYC. I bet if you asked many of them, you'd get a very different result. Try it, you might like it...; Reply to this comment


by whereisthemedia November 19, 2009 5:51 PM EST: military tribunals are the proper way to deal with these people, not giving them American rights in US civilian courts. WE ARE AT WAR WITH JIHAD. KSM claims he was the mastermind of 9/11. Therefore, these guys are military combatants and should be dealt with in a military tribunal. That's how we have done it in the past. In a sense, you are negating the actions of past presidents who used military tribunals such as during WWII.; Reply to this comment


by ericagain November 18, 2009 2:35 PM EST: Katie,

Those who are knowledgable of counter-terrorism issues know that Guantanamo Bay and "secret" CIA prisons only fuel Jihadist propaganda. The prosecution of these individuals in civilian courts was not only the proper thing to do. It was inevitable. I live to counter these perpetrators and those like them. But the keeping of even the most heinous criminals locked up in indefinite limbo, without proper trial, is a crime in and of itself, contrary to every principle that this country was founded upon.

As for the safety issue so vehemently spouted by some politicians: the Federal Bureau of Prisons has safely held terrorists since its inception. And it will safely hold them into the future as well.

Don't treat these terrorists like soldiers. It only plays into al-Qaida propaganda and steels their resolve. They have killed innocents. Treat them like the criminals they are.

Eric; Reply to this comment


by masterlessmaster November 17, 2009 12:11 AM EST: Hi Katie,

There is more to war than meets the eye. It takes spies to start a war. All is not like what it appears to be. Check out, By Way of Deception, By V.O.

Love,

Dan; Reply to this comment