"The Trials of Mo-hammed" or "Khalid's Big Sheikhdown"

[ZARAK]

'9/11 planners' set for Guantanamo Bay trial

Originally Posted by Analysis: Jonathan Beale - Defence correspondent, BBC News

I was one of the handful of journalists present when KSM, as he became known, was first charged under the Bush administration.

On that day, the defendants and lawyers' voices were cut off mid-flow whenever the US military judge deemed they were divulging classified information. That happened at any mention of their treatment - including "waterboarding".

KSM was slim with a full beard and apparently vain. With no photographs allowed, his court portrait had to be approved by the man himself. He complained that his nose was hooked.

The Obama administration had hoped to try the five defendants in a civilian court in New York, but there was too much opposition to letting them on the mainland.

Guantanamo appears to be the only option. But why now? Does it have anything to do with a presidential election? And given what's already been said, what are the chances of a fair trial?

On one hand, they finally have trials; on the other hand, they're under military commissions. So, it seems a lot of questions will go unanswered until someone leaks or subpoenas the answers. Is anyone surprised by this?