Gitmo Confession To USS Cole Plot

Pentagon: Suspect Also Admits Role In Planning Bombings Of U.S. Embassies In Africa

(AP)  A Yemeni portrayed as an al Qaeda operative and a member of a terrorist family confessed to plotting the bombings of the USS Cole and two U.S. embassies in Africa, killing hundreds, according to a Pentagon transcript of a Guantanamo Bay hearing.

The transcript released Monday was the fourth from the hearings the military is holding in private for 14 "high-value" terror suspects who were kept in secret CIA prisons before they were sent to the U.S. facility in Cuba last fall.

Last week, Waleed bin Attash said he helped plan the 1998 embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania that killed more than 200, according to the transcript. He also said he helped organize the 2000 attack on the USS Cole in which suicide bombers steered an explosives-laden boat into the guided-missile destroyer, killing 17 sailors.

"I participated in the buying or purchasing of the explosives," bin Attash said when asked what his role was in the attacks. "I put together the plan for the operation a year and a half prior to the operation, buying the boat and recruiting the members that did the operation."

Also alleged to have been Osama bin Laden's bodyguard at one time, bin Attash is in his late 20s and is a Yemeni who was born and raised in Saudi Arabia, authorities have said. Said to be an al Qaeda operational chief, bin Attash is known as Tawfiq bin Attash or Tawfiq Attash Khallada or simply Khallad. He was captured in 2003.

U.S. intelligence documents allege that bin Attash is a "scion of a prominent terrorist family" that includes his father, Mohammed, who was close to bin Laden, and younger brother Hassan, who has been held at Guantanamo since 2004, arriving at the age of 17.

Several brothers attended al Qaeda training camps in Afghanistan in the 1990s and two have been killed, one in a 2001 U.S. airstrike in Afghanistan, the U.S. says.

Bin Attash told a March 12 hearing that he met with the man who did the embassy bombings just a few hours before the operation took place, according to the transcript released by the Defense Department

"I was the link between Osama bin Laden and his deputy," Abu Ayyub al-Masri, bin Attash said. Al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, took over the leadership of al Qaeda in Iraq after its leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed in a U.S. airstrike last June.

Bin Attash also said he was with bin Laden when the Cole was attacked while refueling in Yemen's port of Aden.

Legal experts have criticized the U.S. decision to bar independent observers from the hearings, called combatant status review tribunals. Carl Tobias, a University of Richmond law professor, said "legitimate criticisms can be raised" about the confessions coming out of the hearings.

"Of course, no one's there to know, other than what we see from the transcripts and what the hearing officers hear," Tobias said.

"The claim has been that some of the confessions were extracted by torture or other activities that are inappropriate, and (there are) doubts about whether the detainees are telling the truth," he said.

Many have questioned the confession of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, also known as KSM, who claimed responsibility or partial responsibility for nearly three dozen plots including the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., according to transcripts of his March 10 hearing released last week.

Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert at Georgetown University, said he has been surprised by the skepticism over the transcripts released so far.

"It dovetails with what we know," Hoffman said of the reported confessions. "With KSM, this guy was the evil genius he describes. ... In terrorism, it's a matter of keeping lots of irons in the fire and it's whichever ones are coming to fruition that you go with."

The hearings are being held to determine whether the suspects should be declared "enemy combatants" who can be held indefinitely and prosecuted by military tribunals. If, as expected, the 14 are declared enemy combatants, they could then be charged and tried under the military commissions law signed by President Bush in October.

A federal judge in Virginia last Wednesday found the government of Sudan liable for the attack on the Cole in a lawsuit in which the sailors' relatives argued that al Qaeda could not have succeeded without the African nation providing a safe haven for bin Laden and financial support. No damage amount has yet been awarded.

Lorrie Triplett of Suffolk, Va., whose husband, Andrew, died in the Cole attack, said the confession is helpful to the families of the Cole sailors because it bolsters the case they made in court.

"In some ways, it could have been coerced, you know, they just want to just blame anybody, but it's the tip of the iceberg. It is more than just him," she said.

"The thing is, we want accountability from all levels, not just the foreign nationals who pulled off the attack, who masterminded the attack, but those who let it happen within our government as well," said Jamal Gunn, 26, of Virginia Beach, Va., whose brother, Cherone Gunn, was killed aboard the Cole. Gunn said the Cole should not have stopped in Yemen because that country was on a terrorist watch list.

In the late 1990s, bin Attash allegedly alternated between serving as bin Laden's bodyguard and fighting Afghanistan's Northern Alliance force. He lost his right leg in a battlefield accident in 1997, U.S. intelligence says.

Bin Attash helped choose the Sept. 11 hijackers and made two flights on U.S. airlines to assess in-flight security procedures, authorities allege. Bin Laden wanted bin Attash to be one of the hijackers on Sept. 11, but that plan was foiled when bin Attash was arrested in Yemen in April of that year and briefly imprisoned after attempting to get a U.S. visa.

Intelligence officials say that in the months before his 2003 arrest, he and others were close to executing a plot to simultaneously attack the U.S. consulate in Karachi, westerners at the airport and westerners living in the area.

The U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay opened five years ago, mostly with men captured from the war in Afghanistan. Roughly 385 prisoners are still held there and about 80 detainees are designated for release or transfer.

[skyhawk761]

No civilian spectators allowed, no reporters allowed..... just trust us to what they have said and admitted to. You know uncle Dicky and I wouldn't lie to you. Sheeple!

[hawksprings]

MityWhity, sometimes I wonder if some American Liberals might not be secret Muslim operatives, kind of like the "5th Columns" in WW2, because some of them play the role so well.

[hawksprings]

MityWhity, sometimes I wonder if some American Liberals might really be secret Muslim operatives, kind of like the "5th Columns" in WW2, because some of them play the role so well it's scary.

[hawksprings]

I keep posting this, but it appears down in the list instead of at the top, what gives?

MityWhity, sometimes I wonder if some American Liberals might really be secret Muslim operatives, kind of like the "5th Columns" in WW2, because some of them play the role so well it's scary.

[theusa1st]

The far left in America will bring up vague allegations of torture and think it more important than real the danger that Al Qaeda and other terrorists just want to kill us. The far left don't really want to know the truth, they just want to put the president on trial and blame all the ill's of the world on the U.S.A. and think the terrorist problem will go away if we treat them nice. I quess they have already forgotten that we were attacked, unprovoked, and that the "nice" terrorist didn't really caught off peoples heads so the whole world can see how brave they are. They hide behind women and children to shoot at our soldiers. If the left wants to defend the terrorist why don't you go be their human shields?

[theusa1st]

The far left in America will bring up vague allegations of torture and think it more important than real the danger that Al Qaeda and other terrorists just want to kill us. The far left don't really want to know the truth, they just want to put the president on trial and blame all the ill's of the world on the U.S.A. and think the terrorist problem will go away if we treat them nice. I quess they have already forgotten that we were attacked, unprovoked, and that the "nice" terrorist didn't really caught off peoples heads so the whole world can see how brave they are. They hide behind women and children to shoot at our soldiers. If the left wants to defend the terrorist why don't you go be their human shields?

[bigsk8fan]

"MityWhity, sometimes I wonder if some American Liberals might really be secret Muslim operatives, kind of like the "5th Columns" in WW2, because some of them play the role so well it's scary." Posted by HawkSprings

This is real historical revisionism. Now let's see, who gave out the secret identity of one of our spies? Was it a liberal? No, it was the White House. Proven in a court of law.

[random_radar]

We sure are having good luck with confessions lately. Seems like every alleged Al Queda operative is fessing up, and wouldn't you know it--they all are responsible exactly like they were accused.

Of course, why would a terrorist give any information at all? What advantage would it give them? Gosh, if I was tortured enough I would probably just admit to anything they wanted, too. But so long as we are happy, case closed and celebrate.

[middleman8]

finaley, after all these years and terrible carnage we are finding out things. why they are at it could the U S interagators find out which one of these confessors caused my shoe lace to break three years ago.

[mitywhity]

Awwwww, poor muslim butchers. You know libs, good men died in the pursuit of these people. They weren't picked up off the front steps of Lovelyville, USA. These bozos were wrested from the battlefields, backrooms of safehouses and the hideouts of sympathizers from all corners of the world. They confess brazenly to what they did to show their defiance to the USA and their allegiance to the ficticious deity, allah. I have no remorse or sympathy for their "mistreatment" if in fact it ever happened to them.

[bobgee_1999]

A season of coincidence. A few days ago Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confessed, now Waleed Mohammed Bin Attash. But the coincidence doesn't end there. Suddenly the administration that looked incompetent now looks like they're acheiving something---and presidential campaigning has begun! Amazing. And the use of straw man arguments like "The far left don't really want to know the truth" (sic), "blame all the ill's of the world on the U.S.A." & "the left wants to defend the terrorist" simply proves you don't have a real argument and have to put words in
other people%u2019s mouths.

On the subject of cowardice, you made me laugh out loud, TinyWhitey. One only acts to defend themselves if they are afraid of something. The GOP is the party of cowards. Republicans are frightened of everything, from women and minorities to Commies and terrorists, atheists, immorality and ***, and particularly, change, open-mindedness and Liberals.

But that%u2019s ok. We%u2019re afraid too. The difference is, you%u2019re afraid of boogeymen, so you act to protect your personal safety. We%u2019re afraid of what you%u2019re doing to America, so we act to protect it from people like you. That's a little thing we call patriotism. Look it up.

[mitywhity]

By the way, they call you sympathizers "Useful Idiots" - that's funny! That means you teary-eyed liberals are their savior whom they fool with such ease. They'll have your heads ripped off by a rope and horse one day soon if they get their way unless you convert to islam - which you'll all gladly do like the cowards you are.

[dallison7]

We sure are having good luck with confessions lately. Seems like every alleged Al Queda operative is fessing up, and wouldn't you know it--they all are responsible exactly like they were accused.
Posted by random_radar

I HAVE NO DOUBT THE GUY WOULD HAVE CONFESSED TO BEING A 'THREE-TOED, SPECKLED TREE-FROG'.

[easeup-2009]

Glad to see the liberal moonbats are spinning this in a negative way. Party-before-country as usual for liberals.

There's even some of the "Black helicopter" loons claiming it's all a conspiracy!!

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!

[karlimhof]

By the way, they call you sympathizers "Useful Idiots" - that's funny! ... like the cowards you are.
Posted by MityWhity


Well mighty witty, it could be said that being a funny idiot is far far better than neocon tool

and if you're such hero - why aren't you enlisting? you sound mity brave.....

[dallison7]

They confess brazenly to what they did to show their defiance to the USA and their allegiance to the ficticious deity, allah.
Posted by MityWhity


I am sure, though, you would have more sympathy for them if they offered their allegiance to your ficticious deity.

[us_infidel]

"(AP) Waleed Mohammed Bin Attash, long suspected of plotting the bombing of the USS Cole, confessed to planning the attack during a hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to a Pentagon transcript released Monday"

So, why the "Alleged", CBS? He confessed. Do you have to waih until he is formally sentenced? Do you think the ACLU will take his case and he will be found not guilty and will come back and sue you?

GOD...You are the most biased, anti American, news organization this side of CNN and Al Jazeera!

[us_infidel]

and if you're such hero - why aren't you enlisting? you sound mity brave.....

Posted by karlimhof at 12:27 PM : Mar 19, 2007

A typical bedwetting liberal response. Personally, I wouldn't p*ss on you if you were burning alive. I used to buy in to that, "I don't agree with what you say but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

But I no longer feel that way. I had no idea how off track America has become. It is my sincere hope that you and others like you are in a high probability target area.

And when the air temp outside your town heats up to about 50,000 degrees, I will take some small satisfaction in knowing that your worthless kind have been diminished by some number.

[reshuffle]

Right. Another Orwellian confession. Humanity gone awry. This wouldn't have happened if the Left had had their way.

Saddam would still have his head; the Shia and Sunni would be making love to each other; Valerie Plame would still be 007; Gitmo would have the guiding spirit of the UN; our US prosecutors en masse would be figuring out ways not to politicize cases like Marc Rich; and all the Jihadists would be singing God Bless America.

Oh, I forgot. And CBS would still pretend that Dan Rather really was Walter Cronkite.


-resh

[duffyn]

I thought bed wetting was the strict province of conservative pub*s. What a hate filled response by US_infidel!

[duffyn]

Personally, I'm a little suspicious of all these "confessions". What person here would not confess to anything after 5 minutes of torture? Having said that, yes, I hope this person is the perp and they receive just punishment for wreaking havoc on one of our beautiful ships.

[j-whitman]

USinfidel,,, Are you trying to scare us with WMD's that don't exist ???? -- Someone's already tried that, it only worked for the ignorant.

[duffyn]

Right! I can say this, If Al Gore had been president on 9/11, here is what probably would have happened. Bin laden would be dead or rotting away in prison along with all his cohorts who had anything to do with 9/11. People all over the world would still respect the US and want to do business with us. Saddam would still be pinned down with no WMDS. We would have money in the budget instead of owing trillions. New Orleans would be rebuilt on higher ground where it should be. And that's just a start!

[j-whitman]

Maybe, Rudy will win in 08, & show the insurgents how proper color corodinated cross dressing can help them participate in government.

[perception5]

"I put together the plan for the operation a year and a half prior to the operation, buying the boat and recruiting the members that did the operation."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Waleed Mohammed Bin Attash

......I guess the Democrats and their close pals in our corrupt liberal MSM wolfpack is going to demand that this terrorist be released now....OR they will probalby say that he can't get a fair trial from the US military..........

[j-whitman]

Perception,,, This democrat says try him in a real court & hang the idiot -- Same thing we should to with Bush, Cheney, Rice & Rove, that's equality in justice.

[zootallures2]

What about the USS Liberty?
What is the most amazing thing of that was the remaining crew and ship was saved by the USSR!

You are pathetic.

[randalds]

"Alleged USS Cole Attack Planner Confesses
Pentagon: Suspect Also Admits Role In Planning Bombings Of U.S. Embassies In Africa"

He also confessed to being a former member of the Manson family who helped kill Sharon Tate. Then he confessed to being best friends with John Hinckley Jr and sold him a gun though didn't know what it was for. He also corked bats and sold steroids to baseball player to try to contaminate the game. After a few more beatings he just might confess to being the onbe who forged the yellowcake doucment that bush lied about and lead us into this war. Stay tuned as I'm sure even a few more beatings will result in even more exciting confessions.

[easeup-2009]

"Right! I can say this, If Al Gore had been president on 9/11, here is what probably would have happened. Bin laden would be dead or rotting away in prison along with all his cohorts who had anything to do with 9/11. People all over the world would still respect the US and want to do business with us. Saddam would still be pinned down with no WMDS. We would have money in the budget instead of owing trillions. New Orleans would be rebuilt on higher ground where it should be. And that's just a start!"

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Al Gore was president we'd all be praying at sundown!!!

[randalds]

and if you're such hero - why aren't you enlisting? you sound mity brave.....

Posted by karlimhof at 12:27 PM : Mar 19, 2007

A typical bedwetting liberal response. Personally, I wouldn't p*ss on you if you were burning alive. I used to buy in to that, "I don't agree with what you say but I'll defend to the death your right to say it."

But I no longer feel that way. I had no idea how off track America has become. It is my sincere hope that you and others like you are in a high probability target area.

And when the air temp outside your town heats up to about 50,000 degrees, I will take some small satisfaction in knowing that your worthless kind have been diminished by some number.


Posted by US_Infidel at 12:44 PM : Mar 19, 2007


In other words they're cowards.

[easeup-2009]

RandalDS

Do you wear your foil hat shiny-side in or shiny-side out?

Just curious.

[perception5]

Perception,,, This democrat says try him in a real court & hang the idiot -- Same thing we should to with Bush, Cheney, Rice & Rove, that's equality in justice.
Posted by j-whitman at 01:21 PM : Mar 19, 2007

........ You mean like the one that OJ was tried in?????? if I recall correctly OJ, that idiot never got hung......
American civilian courts are no where "close" to being as fair as a military court........ Not Even Close....

[hawksprings]

"If Al Gore was president we'd all be praying at sundown!!!"
Posted by easeup

Actually, it's at sundown, sunrise and 3 other times during the day.

But Al Gore would probably pay someone else to do it, and call it "Prayer Credits" so he could say he had a neutral Prayer Footprint.

[planotiger]

US_Infidel - classy post, bud. You are a great representative of the REAL conservative base. I bet you IDOLIZE *** Cheney, Karl Rove, etc. The ends justify the means as long as it is what YOU want, and who gives a *** about anything or anyone else!! Yeah, you really are a great representative of the spirit of America!!

[j-whitman]

Perception,,
, That makes for a good argument against high priced lawyers & multi-teired justice system.... Give them all pro-bono junior lawyers, as the rest of us get.
, Bush & his ENRON family circle would fight it tooth & nail.

[j-whitman]

Perception,,
. Give them all pro-bono junior lawyers, as the rest of us get., Bush & his ENRON family circle would fight it tooth & nail. --
- But then again if you could show Bush how it could help the radical militant Sunni's & the UAE he would promote the idea in his cheerleading skirt.

[wadyaknow]

Gee it seems that the Bush Administration is suddenly getting all sorts of confessions fronm the terrorists. I guess if you apply enough torture they will admit to anything. I'm surprised they have not confessed to killing Kennedy!

[randalds]

What a distortion! He was in complete control, taking (and communicating) subtle messages from his (off camera) advisers, and quickly ended what he was doing. He did so in a manner that avoided panic (in the presence of the school children). I have the utmost respect for the way he handled himself in that situation. But of course, you can only resort to accusation and exaggeration.
Posted by vbnvbn at 01:59 PM : Mar 19, 2007


LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL! That's one of the best jokes I've herad in a long time!!! Whew! Thanks. I needed a good laugh this morning!

[theusa1st]

did i not hear the other day that gore was a combat veteran. and we all know what teh former draft dodger, daddy got me an oil exec job did dont we? then his swift boat rove fat slobs smear a good vet named john kerry.

he is THE worse president EVER!!!!!!!
Posted by usadvisor101 at 01:45 PM : Mar 19, 2007

What? Al Gore a combat veteran...that sounds like a the B.S. moveon.org spews. At least Bush was smart enough to fly jets in the guard. As for John Kerry the flip flopping I'll say what you want to hear man...it was veterans against him. Tell me what service that Al Gore served in combat.

[downtowner97]

"Of course the people don't want war. But after all, it's the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along whether it's a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism, and exposing the country to greater danger."

Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg trials.

source: http://www.snopes.com/quotes/goering.htm

[theusa1st]

the swift boat fat slob liar, was proven by PBS in a special TO BE A LIAR. KERRY WAS A HERO THATS A FACT. his commander, the vc survivors IN VIETNAM TODAY VERIFIED HIS ACCOUNT, and the GUY WHOM HE SAVED HIS LIFE THAT DAY FROM THE B-40 rocket, in the mekong delta, .....ALL SUPPORT KERRYS VERSION OF EVENTS.
Posted by usadvisor101 at 02:51 PM : Mar 19, 2007

PBS is bias to the left along with the BBC. Since you know so much...tell me how John Murtha is a "hero". What did he do to deserve to be called a hero? He is just another crook...he was ready to take a bribe and everyone knows it.

[obiwan234]

I say give them all a fair trial and hang them!

These are the worst of the worst Islam has to offer up and if the lefty%u2019s are so sympathetic to their plight, might I suggest they go to Gitmo and bunk in with them for oh say a day or two, then we can box up the lefty%u2019s remains and send them home.

They are just so-o-o stupid, they really don%u2019t get it at all. You have to deal with these buggers with strength, it%u2019s all they understand, strength and power. Oh I%u2019m sorry, isn%u2019t being strong and powerful somehow un-American today?

Not in my world buddy-boy. Kill them all and let Allah sort them out! Allah Who? Never mind.

[randalds]

Although opposed to the Vietnam War, on August 7, 1969, Gore enlisted in the United States Army in order to participate in the war. After basic training at Fort Dix, Gore was assigned as a military journalist writing for The Army Flier, the base newspaper at Fort Rucker. With seven months remaining in his enlistment, he was shipped to Vietnam, arriving January 2, 1971. He served for four months with the 20th Engineer Brigade in Bien Hoa and for another month at the Army Engineer Command in Long Binh. As his unit was standing down, he applied for and received a non-essential personnel discharge two months early in order to attend divinity school at Vanderbilt University.

Gore's military service above.

[obiwan234]

Kerry a hero? What rope have you been smoking?

The Swift Boad Vets are heros, I know I was there and they come to get us when others would not. If you don't like that fact then you bite.

[randalds]

In 1959, Murtha, then a captain, took command of the 34th Special Infantry Company, Marine Corps Reserves, in Johnstown. He remained in the Reserves after his discharge from active duty until he volunteered for service in the Vietnam War, serving from 1966 to 1967, serving as a battalion staff officer (S-2 Intelligence Section), receiving the Bronze Star with Valor device, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He retired from the Reserves as a colonel in 1990, receiving the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.

Murtha's military record. From what I can see both he and Gore were much more heroes then that drunken drug addled idiot Bush who flew a bar stool in Texas. Just the fact that they both volunteered to go to Vietnam while Bush cowered in Austin speaks volumes about their courage.

[randalds]

By the way, since you seem to be so critical of those who didn't go to Viet Nam (and were known to smoke the wacky weed), can you tell me the military service of your "hero" Bill Clinton, too?

Posted by vbnvbn at 03:15 PM : Mar 19, 2007

Clinton was registered for the draft but then applied for and received a deferment as he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship (A great honor) to study in Great Britain. After he was done he came back and re-registered for the draft. He draw a high number and wasn't required to serve. I have no problem with that. Certainly not as much as I do with Slick Di*ck Cheney who pulled political strings to get Five deferments because he had "other priorities".

[randalds]

hey randalids, if we could only get some people here to wikipedia the people in the bush admn, they might be suprised.
Posted by usadvisor101 at 03:10 PM : Mar 19, 2007

LOL! Yep, they might find out that most of their heroes who gladly send other peoples kids off to die in their war were actually completely gutless cowards themselves (and still are). There's so many yellow bellied cowards in the White House it gives off a slightly orange glow. LOL!

[randalds]

Posted by vbnvbn at 03:25 PM : Mar 19, 2007

LOL!!!!!! That's a website dedicated to break online chain letters! And you're using it as a "News" source!!! Now that's not just desperate, it's stupid desperate! It's a copy of a chain latter that was circulating on the Internet and even this site says it wrong! LOL!!!!!!!!

[randalds]

Exactly! But when Dan Rather tries to use a falsified document to try to keep President Bush from being re-elected, it's all good (as judged by the liberals).
Posted by vbnvbn at 03:49 PM : Mar 19, 2007

LOL! You post a phony chain letter to trash Clinton and when you lie is pointed out you say it's OK because you think Dan Rather did the same about Bush? LOL!

In the words of the One and Only, The Great Bugs Bunny! "What a maroon!"

[one_american]

With this confession by the terrorist by Waleed Mohammed Bin Attash for attacking the USS Cole, it would appear that the Bush Adminstration is holding the terrorists to account for their acts.

Something that Bill Clinton (or any other insane liberal for that matter) would never do.