US: Trial Date Set for Alleged 9/11 Attackers

Can plotters get a fair trial or does the CIA'S torture of defendants taint the proceedings?

Published 2 days ago

US: Trial Date Set for Alleged 9/11 Attackers

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Above: The Twin Towers of World Trade Center engulfed in flames on Sept. 11, 2001. Image credit: Thomas Nilsson/ Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Though a judge will have to look at the conditions in which prisoners were held, determining whether evidence obtained by interrogation can be admitted, the alleged 9/11 attackers absolutely can get a fair trial in the U.S. The right to a fair trial and the rules of evidentiary process ensure justice will be delivered in-line with U.S. constitutional protections.

Politico

Establishment-critical narrative

U.S. legal history has consistently held that waterboarding constitutes torture and therefore violates U.S. statutory prohibitions. The judge in this case must not bury the evidence that Mohammed was repeatedly tortured by the CIA. While he should face a fair trial for the charges he's accused of, authorities that violated his human rights and dignity should also face legal accountability.

Freedom from Torture

Metaculus Prediction

There's a 20% chance that Taliban-controlled Afghanistan will be used as a base for anti-NATO terrorism before 2027, according to the Metaculus prediction community.