Thinking Points: Al-Qa'ida Media Propagandist Convicted By Military Commission

Thinking Points

News and Analysis

Thinking Points: Al-Qa'ida Media Propagandist Convicted By Military Commission

Al-Qa'ida Media Propagandist Convicted By Military Commission

Posted by N T Lihou at 11/4/2008 6:35 AM

Categories: Gitmo Detainee,Information Operations,Al-Qa'ida,Homeland Security,101 Most Dangerous,Afghanistan

A military commission sentenced Ali Hamza Ahmad Suliman al Bahlul of Yemen to confinement for life for conspiracy, solicitation and providing material support to terrorism in violation of the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Bahlul will immediately begin serving his sentence of confinement at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Bahlul renounced his Yemeni citizenship because Yemen was cooperating with the United States and had thus sworn allegiance to the enemy. "From this position, I announce that I have given up my Yemeni citizenship," he said.

He renewed his allegiance to Usama bin Laden. "Today I say to you that I will never deny that I have participated with Usama bin Laden in fighting you and your allies, the Jews, because I'm looking for a greater day than today," he said. "I am responsible for my actions in this world and in the next world, meaning I don't care if you imprison me or kill me."

Bahlul's trail conviction is one step in the military commission process. Now that the trial is complete his case will receive an automatic review by the convening authority, who will evaluate the legal sufficiency of the findings and appropriateness of the sentence. Bahlul will still be represented by counsel and have the opportunity to submit matters for consideration on his behalf. Then his case will receive an automatic review by the Court of Military Commission Review. Thereafter, he will have the opportunity to appeal to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and to the Supreme Court.

Charges
al Bahlul willfully joined the al-Qa'ida enterprise and willfully entered into the agreement with the intent to further those unlawful purposes, and knowingly committed the following overt acts in order to accomplish some objective or purpose of the enterprise and the agreement:

traveled to Afghanistan with the purpose and intent of joining al-Qa'ida;

met with Saif al 'Adl, the head of the al-Qa'ida Security Committee, as a step toward joining the al Qaeda organization;

underwent military-type training at an al-Qa'ida sponsored training camp then located in Afghanistan near Mes Aynak;

pledged fealty, or "bayat," to the leader of al-Qa'ida, Usama bin Laden, joined al-Qa'ida, and provided personal services in support of al-Qa'ida;

prepared and assisted in the preparation of various propaganda products, including the video "The Destruction of the American Destroyer U.S.S. Cole," to solicit material support for al-Qa'ida, to recruit and indoctrinate personnel to the organization and objectives of al-Qa'ida, and to solicit, incite and advise persons to commit Terrorism;

acted as personal secretary and media secretary of Usama bin Laden in support of al-Qa'ida;

arranged for Muhammed Atta, also known as Abu Abdul Rahman al Masri, and Ziad al Jarrah, also known as Abu al Qa'qa al Lubnani, to pledge fealty, or "bayat," to Usama bin Laden;

prepared the propaganda declarations styled as martyr wills of Muhammed Atta and Ziad al Jarrah in preparation for the acts of terrorism perpetrated by the said Muhammed Atta, Ziad al Jarrah and others at various locations in the United States on September 11,2001;

at the direction of Usama bin Laden, researched the economic effect of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, and provided the result of that research to Usama bin Laden;

operated and maintained data processing equipment and media communications equipment for the benefit of Usama bin Laden and other members of the al-Qa'ida leadership, and;