I Know ... Let's Make It Easier

(Cartoon by Ted Rall published on his website 3/19/14.  Click on image to enlarge.)

You know, all along I've objected to those damned dog-and-pony secretive show trials down in Guantanamo Bay as a travesty of American principles.  I was certain that the American civilian judicial system was more than capable of dealing fairly and openly in trying those suspected of the 9/11 attacks and other planned attacks.  I looked to trials such as the current one involving Sulaiman Abu Ghaith to prove my point.

Now, I'm not so sure.

From a CNN report:

In a scathing ruling, a federal judge has denied a request by Osama bin Laden's son-in-law to have alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed testify in his defense at trial, either by teleconference from the Guantanamo Bay detention camp or via deposition.

In a motion to the court over the weekend, Sulaiman Abu Ghaith's defense team said Mohammed can provide evidence that their client had no knowledge of planned terror attacks and asked that portions of an unsworn, written statement by Mohammed be allowed before the jury even if his testimony was not.

 

Mohammed, the admitted mastermind of the September 11, 2001, terror attacks, issued a rambling defense of Abu Gaith, who is on trial in New York. Abu Gaith is accused of being al Qaeda's propagandist in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. The rare statement by Mohammed was in response to questions from Abu Gaith's attorney and was filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan on Sunday night.

 

At a hearing on the matter Tuesday morning, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan called the defense motion "entirely baseless" and said nothing Mohammed may testify to is relevant to Abu Ghaith's case.    [Emphasis added]

What's next?  The judge issuing simplified jury instructions which directs the jury to find the defendant guilty?

I am deeply ashamed.