Obama Administration Accepts Its First Military Commission Guilty Plea

Cully Stimson / July 08, 2010

GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA – Ibrahim al Qosi, a Sudanese-born al-Qaeda terrorist, held at Guantanamo Bay since early 2002, pleaded guilty Wednesday at his military commission to both charges—conspiracy to provide material support for terrorism and material support for terrorism. His much-anticipated plea caps an eight-year saga spanning two separate Administrations and represents the fourth conviction for the on-again-off-again military commissions and the first such conviction in the Obama Administration.

Flanked by his three lawyers (two military, one lead civilian counsel), al Qosi arrived in the Guantanamo Bay main courthouse dressed in a white knitted cap and white prison garb (worn by all compliant detainees) and sported a moderate-length grey beard. Approximately 5’8” and slim, al Qosi (who has 20 AKAs) wore glasses throughout the proceeding, which lasted almost four hours. (more…)