Staff Reports
The Biden administration seems to have rolled out its latest circus act, and this time the headlining act is none other than Khalid Sheikh Mohammed—the so-called genius behind the 9/11 attacks. On a fine Tuesday, President Biden’s Justice Department decided to intervene in a plea agreement that’s about as satisfying as a soggy sandwich. They’ve petitioned a federal appeals court to block a deal that would give Mohammed and his associates a way to avoid the death penalty. Apparently, giving a free pass to the masterminds of one of the most horrific terror attacks in American history is just business as usual for this administration.
The Justice Department made its case by arguing that granting this plea deal would be a significant loss for the government and, by extension, for all Americans who were directly affected by the events of September 11, 2001. After all, what kind of message does it send if those behind such a heinous act can just stroll into a courtroom, plead guilty, and then avoid the ultimate consequence for their actions? They argue that this would deny the public a chance to witness a trial that could shed light on the actions of these terrorists, who bear the heaviest of responsibilities for the grief and destruction they caused.
Judicial hiccups have already taken center stage at Guantanamo Bay, where the military judge and a panel have turned down Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s attempt to squash the plea deal. Apparently, just because Austin thinks he’s the boss doesn’t mean he’s got the authority to call the shots when it comes to a case that involves terrorists. The Pentagon had previously given the green light for the agreement. Now, Mohammed was scheduled to enter his guilty plea on Friday, proving once again that time flies for those who commit unspeakable acts.
Biden administration asks court to block plea deal for alleged mastermind of 9/11 attacks Khalid Sheikh Mohammedhttps://t.co/4O8lGBFqOk pic.twitter.com/eDaDoUu2Xu
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) January 8, 2025
For the defendants, this delay to reconsider the plea deal is not a hardship, according to the Justice Department’s argument. After a lengthy prosecution that has dragged on since 2012, those behind the indirect crux of thousands of lost lives have the luxury of possibly spending the rest of their existence behind bars—life sentences that don’t exactly sound cushy, except perhaps in certain prison circles. So a little pause before they start to serve that delicious prison time should hardly faze these characters who had previously proclaimed their intentions loudly and boldly.
In sum, the Justice Department is seeking justice like a dog demands a bone. The push for a proper examination of this case might not just be righteous; it might be a begrudged necessity to hold terrorists accountable in a manner that befits the magnitude of their crimes. After all, letting them off the hook under the Biden administration’s watch would turn justice into a farce and send a message that the consequences for mass murder might not be as severe as they should be—a notion that sits uncomfortably with any decent American.
