Pentagon Releases Audio of Terror Suspects' Hearings
The Pentagon has released audio recordings from the military hearings of several terror suspects detained at the Guantanamo Bay base in Cuba. Morning Edition reports that the detainees were among those sent to Cuba about a year ago after being held in secret CIA prisons for years.
The audio, available on the Pentagon's Web site, includes the 40-minute-long hearing of suspected Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. However, officials deleted a section that they felt could be used to recruit future terrorists, NPR's Jackie Northam reports.
The censored section includes a 10-minute passage about the capture and beheading of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl and Mohammed explaining why Islamic radicals are waging war on the U.S., The Associated Press reports.
A transcript of Mohammed's hearing, which was posted on the Pentagon's Web site in March, includes some of the sections removed from the tape. Officials told AP that they felt the audio version could be used by al-Qaida in recruitment.
In another statement cut from the audio, Mohammed said he felt some sorrow over Sept. 11.
"The language of the war is victims," Mohammed said in a part of the transcript that was cut from the audio. He compared al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden to George Washington, saying Americans view Washington as a hero for his role in the Revolutionary War and many Muslims view bin Laden in the same light.
9:37 AM ET | 09-14-2007 | permalink
