Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) reported existence of video and audio tapes which have recorded 'coercive interrogation techniques' experienced by Mohamed al-Kahtani.Alleged member of al-Qaeda known as '20th hijacker' was subject of guidelines and methods implemented, approved and supervised by former US Secretary and worldwide sought criminal Donald Rumsfeld with knowledge and support of Guantánamo commanding officer, Major General Geoffrey Miller.
In October 5th press release CCR expressed bitter disbelief for the fact that government failed to disclose existence of the tapes in seven years.
'The government’s interrogation of him has been the topic of multiple military, Justice Department and congressional investigations. These tapes should have been acknowledged long ago,' said CCR Attorney Gitanjali S. Gutierrez.
Charges against al-Kahtani were dropped on May 12, 2008, although there was no official explanation for dismissal, reason was summarized by Susan J. Crawford, 'convening authority of military commissions' with mission to review practices in Guantánamo.
'We tortured [Mohammed al-]Kahtani,' she said during the interview with Washington Post's Bob Woodward.
Crawford dismissed the case without prejudice, leaving the room for prosecutors to reinstate and re-swear the charges on later date.
No 'credible' suspect left
Existence of long sought interrogation tapes serve as reminder about common denominator of suspects for 9/11 attacks. In 2007 CIA admitted cover up and destruction of visual evidence concerning torture of alleged conspirators Zacarias Moussaoui and Abu Zubaydah.
On June 15, 2009 Agency released 'highly redacted' transcripts made during Combatant Status Review Tribunal. Disclosed information provides some insight into possible nature of destroyed tapes.
'After a few months went by, during which I almost lost my mind and my life, they made sure I didn't die, - Zubaydah testified, adding that he 'nearly died four times' and claiming that abuse 'helped' interrogators to conclude how he is not high ranking al-Qaeda operative they've believed to have in custody.
Lack of suspects not compromised by torture becomes more apparent with Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, self-proclaimed 'mastermind' of 9/11 attacks whose 'lack of creativity' (and credibility) was questioned by both, mainstream media and alleged co-conspirators Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri. In March 2007, Sheikh Mohammed took responsibility, 'I was responsible for the 9/11 operation from A to Z,' he wrote in statement issued around the same time as he stood in front of the 'Tribunal' sharing another confession.
'I make up stories,' he said.
Further reading:
Details about unearthed tapes and 'coercive interrogation tactics' al-Kahtani endured are provided in CRC press release.
Verbatim Transcript of Combatant Status Review Tribunal (CSRT) Hearings provided by ACLU.
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