In his first public appearance since he was captured in Pakistan in 2003, the accused mastermind of the September 11 terrorist attacks said at his trial for war crimes yesterday that he welcomed martyrdom at U.S. hands. After the judge warned him that he faces the death penalty if convicted of organizing the attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed challenged the tribunal to put him to death. "Yes, this is what I wish, to be a martyr, for a long time," Mohammed said. "I will, God willing, have this, by you." Mohammad, who donned big black-rimmed glasses, rejected American lawyers, saying they were agents of the Bush administration's "crusade against the Islamic world." By the end of the day, each of Mohammed's four-codefendants had followed suit, saying he wanted to represent himself. The judge, Col. Ralph H. Kohlmann, agreed to permit three of the men to represent themselves but said he wanted more information on one lawyer's assertion that his client had been intimidated by Mohammed.
Clinton to Endorse Obama on Saturday
Hillary Clinton will officially end her campaign at noon Saturday at an event at the National Building Museum in Washington. According to aides, Clinton will thank supporters at the event and then endorse Barack Obama. On Thursday night, the two Democrats met at the home of Sen. Dianne Feinstein to discuss the coming presidential campaign. The meeting was private and requested by Clinton, Feinstein told reporters this morning. "This is a deeply personal time, too, you know," Feinstein said. "Barack is trying to put things together for a major presidential campaign. There are a lot of decompression and nerve endings that need to come together."
Report Accuses Bush of Misrepresenting Prewar Iraq Intelligence
President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and other top administration officials misrepresented classified intelligence to make the case to invade Iraq, according to a new report by the Senate Intelligence Committee. The panel, after reviewing statements made by top Bush administration officials, said that intelligence at the time did not support their claims that Saddam Hussein was linked to the September 11 attacks and al Qaeda; that Iraq would give terrorist groups chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons; and that Iraq was developing drone aircraft to spread chemical or biological agents over the United States.
Climate Legislation Dies in the Senate
Leaving the global warming debate for a new Congress and president next year, Senate Republicans this morning blocked a climate bill that would have required major reductions in greenhouse gases. After Democratic leaders fell a dozen votes short of getting the 60 needed to end a Republican filibuster on the measure and bring the bill up for a vote, Majority Leader Harry Reid pulled the legislation from consideration. The debate centered on the economic costs of putting a price on carbon dioxide, the leading greenhouse gas produced by burning fossil fuels. While the 48-to-36 vote fell short of a majority, the Democrats produced letters from six senators—including presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain—saying they would have supported the bill had they been present.
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