DOD Announces Charges Sworn Against Five Detainees Allegedly Responsible for 9/11 Attacks

 The Department of Defense announced today the office of military commissions prosecutors have sworn charges against five individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Muhammad Salih Mubarak Bin 'Attash, Ramzi Binalshibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, and Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi.

The prosecutors have recommended that the charges against all five of the accused be referred as capital. Capital charges may only be pursued with the convening authority's approval. Under rules governing military commissions, the accused will have the right to counsel learned in applicable law relating to capital cases.

The charges allege that the five accused were responsible for the planning and execution of the attacks on New York, Washington D.C. and Shanksville, Pa. that occurred on September 11, 2001. Those attacks resulted in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people.

The charges are allegations that the accused committed offenses that are chargeable under the Military Commissions Act of 2009, 10 U.S.C. §§ 948a, et seq. There are eight charges common to all five of the accused: conspiracy, murder in violation of the law of war, attacking civilians, attacking civilian objects, intentionally causing serious bodily injury, destruction of property in violation of the law of war, hijacking aircraft, and terrorism. The accused are presumed innocent and may be convicted only if their guilt is proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

These charges go beyond what is necessary to establish that the 9/11 co-conspirators may be lawfully detained under the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force, as informed by the laws of war -- an issue that each Guantanamo detainee may challenge in a habeas petition in federal court.

In accordance with the Military Commissions Act of 2009, the sworn charges will be forwarded to the Convening Authority, Bruce MacDonald. The convening authority will make an independent determination as to whether to refer some, all, or none of the charges for trial by military commission. If the convening authority decides to refer the case to trial, he will designate commission panel members (jurors). The chief trial judge of the Military Commissions Trial Judiciary would then assign a military judge to the case.

Source: U.S. Department of Defense - Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)

Osama Bil Laden Dead: Thank-You DevGru Seal Team 6 #Winning

On April 29, 2011, U.S. President Barack Obama authorized a Kill raid ("Operation Neptune Spear" with "Geronimo" as the code name for bin Laden himself. on bin Laden's suspected location near Abbottabad, Pakistan. 

Location: It was originally believed that bin Laden was hiding near the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas, but he was actually found 100 miles (160 km) away in a $250,000 three-story mansion in Abbottabad at 34°10′9.67″N 73°14′33.60″E.[157] Bin Laden's mansion was located 0.8 miles (1.3 km) southwest of the Pakistan Military Academy (Pakistan's "West Point"). Google Earth maps show that the compound was not present in 2001, but was present on images taken in 2005.

The Raid: On May 1, 2011, in Washington, D.C. (May 2, Pakistan Standard Time), U.S. President Barack Obama announced that Osama bin Laden had been killed. The operation (dubbed Geronimo "E-KIA") was successfully carried out in the early morning of May 2 by U.S. Navy SEALs with intelligence support from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During the raid, bin Laden was fatally shot in the head and chest The entire raid, including intelligence sweeps of the compound, was completed in less than 40 minutes.

Among those killed in the raid were one of bin Laden's sons, a man described as a courier, and the courier's brother. Four years of surveillance of the courier led to the intelligence which made the raid possible. It was reported that the courier was the owner of the compound where the assault took place.

The day after the raid John Brennan, the White House counterterrorism chief, said that the woman that was killed was one of bin Laden's four wives and was being used as a human shield at the time, though this claim was later retracted. Two other women, who were also used as shields, were injured during the raid. He also said that the al-Qaeda leader put up resistance, but was unarmed. Bin Laden was shot twice. A shot above his left eye blew away a part of his skull. He was also hit in the chest.
The Team: U.S. officials reported that a team of 24 U.S. Navy SEALs from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (SEAL Team Six), under the command of the Joint Special Operations Command and working with the CIA, stormed bin Laden's compound in two helicopters. Bin Laden, three other men, and a woman were killed in a firefight in which U.S. forces did not experience any injuries or casualties however one of the helicopters experienced mechanical difficulties, and was destroyed by the SEALs onsite. In his broadcast announcement President Obama said that U.S. forces "took care to avoid civilian casualties."According to U.S. officials, the attack was carried out without the knowledge or consent of Pakistani authorities.

Aftermath:  The U.S. State Department issued a "worldwide caution" for Americans following bin Laden's death and U.S diplomatic facilities everywhere were placed on high alert, a senior U.S official said. Crowds gathered outside the White House, in New York City's Times Square, as well as the World Trade Center, the site of the September 11 Attacks, to celebrate bin Laden's death. Chittral News, a Pakistani news site, claimed that some people were dismayed that Pakistan has lost its sovereignty.

The Body: His body was taken and biometric facial recognition tests were performed. Subsequent genetic testing reportedly supported the preliminary identification.

Within 24 hours of his death, his body was transported to the aircraft carrier "USS Carl Vinson" for final rites and burial at sea. According to the United States military, the decision to bury his remains at sea was to circumvent international difficulties in choosing a burial site. Some observers at the time suggested it might also have been designed to prevent any physical enshrinement of the terrorist leader. His death attracted protests from hundreds of people in the city of Quetta, in southwestern Pakistan, burning U.S. flags and paying homage to the late al-Qaeda leader.

DNA from bin Laden's body, compared with DNA samples on record from his dead sister's brain confirmed bin Laden's identity the following day according to assertions to ABC News by unnamed sources. The 193 cm long body was recovered by the U.S. military and was in its custody until his body was buried in the North Arabian Sea from the USS Carl Vinson, within 24 hours of his death in accord with Islamic traditions. One U.S. official stated that, "finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world's most wanted terrorist would have been difficult."MSNBC reported, "There also was speculation about worry that a grave site could have become a rallying point for militants."

9/111 Lawyer on Vacation as payments wait...

The city has released more than $5 million in initial payments for some Ground Zero workers, but many plaintiffs are still getting requests for required documents they thought were already filed -- while their top lawyer took a posh, two-week vacation in Switzerland, The Post has learned.

The first funds -- up to $3,250 each for 2,210 workers and their spouses-- were wired Friday to the law firm representing most of the 10,000 suing 9/11 responders, Worby Groner Edelman & Napoli Bern, said a spokesman for the WTC Captive Insurance Co, the city-run entity controlling a $1 billion federal fund.

The law firm is expected to deduct its 25 percent fee, plus expenses, and send checks to their clients.

Under the mass settlement, worth $662.5 million, the first payments must be made 20 days after the deal was finalized on Jan. 5, or after an outside firm verifies the claims.

The first $5 million is going to plaintiffs “who have met the requirements for payment under the final settlement agreement,” said a WTC Captive statement yesterday. “We will continue to make timely payments as these requirements are met.”

Some responders received letters from the law firm this month, warning:

“YOU WILL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION UNDER THE SETTLEMENT UNLESS YOU SATISFY WORK PROOF REQUIREMENTS.”

 Lawyers have known about the requirements for at least 10 months.

Meanwhile, lead lawyer Paul Napoli took a getaway in Zermott, a Swiss resort near the Matterhorn, from Dec. 18 to Jan. 2, insiders said. He also spent Thanksgiving week in Anguilla, a Caribbean island, and went to Paris and Aix en Provence in southern France last September, after a deadline for workers to sign onto the settlement was extended two months to Nov. 8.

"A lot of people need this money for medical costs -- or because they're flat out broke -- and he thinks its a perfect time to see Europe." fumed a 9/11 responder awaiting payment for his illness.

Napoli yesterday denied delays on his end, saying "All forms and documents have been submitted timely. The paperwork needs to be processed before payments are made. That is out of our hands."

He said his office is staffed every day and holidays -- and time with his family is "always an important priority."

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/payouts_on_hold_as_lawyer_vacations_mw9lwMJLW1bgfPFCirujcJ#ixzz1CjDDC1cV

FDNY 343 THE LIST

NY-NYFD- WTC TOWER IC - NEVER FORGET ... FDNY 343 THE LIST

Never Forget! Honor the Fallen...

	List of 343 FDNY Firefighters Killed at the World Trade Center September 11, 2001
	Joseph Agnello, Lad.118		Lt. Brian Ahearn, Bat.13		Eric Allen, Sqd.18 (D)		Richard Allen, Lad.15		Cpt. James Amato, Sqd.1		Calixto Anaya Jr., Eng.4
	Joseph Angelini, Res.1 (D)		Joseph Angelini Jr., Lad.4		Faustino Apostol Jr., Bat.2		David Arce, Eng.33		Louis Arena, Lad.5 (D)		Carl Asaro, Bat.9
	Lt. Gregg Atlas, Eng.10		Gerald Atwood, Lad.21		Gerald Baptiste, Lad.9		A.C. Gerard Barbara, Cmd. Ctr.		Matthew Barnes, Lad.25		Arthur Barry, Lad.15
	Lt.Steven Bates, Eng.235		Carl Bedigian, Eng.214		Stephen Belson, Bat.7		John Bergin, Res.5		Paul Beyer, Eng.6		Peter Bielfeld, Lad.42
	Brian Bilcher, Sqd.1		Carl Bini, Res.5		Christopher Blackwell, Res.3		Michael Bocchino, Bat.48		Frank Bonomo, Eng.230		Gary Box, Sqd.1
	Michael Boyle, Eng.33		Kevin Bracken, Eng.40		Michael Brennan, Lad.4		Peter Brennan, Res.4		Cpt. Daniel Brethel, Lad.24 (D)		Cpt. Patrick Brown, Lad.3
	Andrew Brunn, Lad.5 (D)		Cpt. Vincent Brunton, Lad.105		F.M. Ronald Bucca		Greg Buck, Eng.201		Cpt. William Burke Jr., Eng.21		A.C. Donald Burns, Cmd. Ctr.
	John Burnside, Lad.20		Thomas Butler, Sqd.1		Patrick Byrne, Lad.101		George Cain, Lad.7		Salvatore Calabro, Lad.101		Cpt. Frank Callahan, Lad.35
	Michael Cammarata, Lad.11		Brian Cannizzaro, Lad.101		Dennis Carey, Hmc.1		Michael Carlo, Eng.230		Michael Carroll, Lad.3		Peter Carroll, Sqd.1 (D)
	Thomas Casoria, Eng.22		Michael Cawley, Lad.136		Vernon Cherry, Lad.118		Nicholas Chiofalo, Eng.235		John Chipura, Eng.219		Michael Clarke, Lad.2
	Steven Coakley, Eng.217		Tarel Coleman, Sqd.252		John Collins, Lad.25		Robert Cordice, Sqd.1		Ruben Correa, Eng.74		James Coyle, Lad.3
	Robert Crawford, Safety		Lt. John Crisci, H.M.		B.C. Dennis Cross, Bat.57 (D)		Thomas Cullen III, Sqd. 41		Robert Curatolo, Lad.16 (D)		Lt. Edward D'Atri, Sqd.1
	Michael D'Auria, Eng.40		Scott Davidson, Lad.118		Edward Day, Lad.11		B.C. Thomas DeAngelis, Bat. 8		Manuel Delvalle, Eng.5		Martin DeMeo, H.M. 1
	David DeRubbio, Eng.226		Lt. Andrew Desperito, Eng.1 (D)		B.C. Dennis Devlin, Bat.9		Gerard Dewan, Lad.3		George DiPasquale, Lad.2		Lt. Kevin Donnelly, Lad.3
	Lt. Kevin Dowdell, Res.4		B.C. Raymond Downey, Soc.		Gerard Duffy, Lad.21		Cpt. Martin Egan, Jr., Div.15 (D)		Michael Elferis, Eng.22		Francis Esposito, Eng.235
	Lt. Michael Esposito, Sqd.1		Robert Evans, Eng.33		B.C. John Fanning, H.O.		Cpt. Thomas Farino, Eng.26		Terrence Farrell, Res.4		Cpt. Joseph Farrelly, Div.1
	Dep. Comm. William Feehan, (D)		Lee Fehling, Eng.235		Alan Feinberg, Bat.9		Michael Fiore, Res.5		Lt. John Fischer, Lad.20		Andre Fletcher, Res.5
	John Florio, Eng.214		Lt. Michael Fodor, Lad.21		Thomas Foley, Res.3		David Fontana, Sqd.1		Robert Foti, Lad.7		Andrew Fredericks, Sqd.18
	Lt. Peter Freund, Eng.55		Thomas Gambino Jr., Res.3		Chief of Dept. Peter Ganci, Jr. (D)		Lt. Charles Garbarini, Bat.9		Thomas Gardner, Hmc.1		Matthew Garvey, Sqd.1
	Bruce Gary, Eng.40		Gary Geidel, Res.1		B.C. Edward Geraghty, Bat.9		Dennis Germain, Lad.2		Lt. Vincent Giammona, Lad.5		James Giberson, Lad.35
	Ronnie Gies, Sqd.288		Paul Gill, Eng.54		Lt. John Ginley, Eng.40		Jeffrey Giordano, Lad.3		John Giordano, Hmc.1		Keith Glascoe, Lad.21
	James Gray, Lad.20		B.C. Joseph Grzelak, Bat.48		Jose Guadalupe, Eng.54		Lt. Geoffrey Guja, Bat.43		Lt. Joseph Gullickson, Lad.101		David Halderman, Sqd.18
	Lt. Vincent Halloran, Lad.8		Robert Hamilton, Sqd.41		Sean Hanley, Lad.20 (D)		Thomas Hannafin, Lad.5		Dana Hannon, Eng.26		Daniel Harlin, Lad.2
	Lt. Harvey Harrell, Res.5		Lt. Stephen Harrell, Bat.7		Cpt. Thomas Haskell, Jr., Div.15		Timothy Haskell, Sqd.18 (D)		Cpt. Terence Hatton, Res.1		Michael Haub, Lad.4
	Lt. Michael Healey, Sqd.41		John Hefferman, Lad.11		Ronnie Henderson, Eng.279		Joseph Henry, Lad.21		William Henry, Res.1 (D)		Thomas Hetzel, Lad.13
	Cpt. Brian Hickey, Res.4		Lt. Timothy Higgins, S.O.C.		Jonathan Hohmann, Hmc.1		Thomas Holohan, Eng.6		Joseph Hunter, Sqd.288		Cpt. Walter Hynes, Lad.13 (D)
	Jonathan Ielpi, Sqd.288		Cpt. Frederick Ill Jr., Lad.2		William Johnston, Eng.6		Andrew Jordan, Lad.132		Karl Joseph, Eng.207		Lt. Anthony Jovic, Bat.47
	Angel Juarbe Jr., Lad.12		Mychal Judge, Chaplain (D)		Vincent Kane, Eng.22		B.C. Charles Kasper, S.O.C.		Paul Keating, Lad.5		Richard Kelly Jr., Lad.11
	Thomas R. Kelly, Lad.15		Thomas W. Kelly, Lad.105		Thomas Kennedy, Lad.101		Lt. Ronald Kerwin, Sqd.288		Michael Kiefer, Lad.132		Robert King Jr., Eng.33
	Scott Kopytko, Lad.15		William Krukowski, Lad.21		Kenneth Kumpel, Lad.25		Thomas Kuveikis, Sqd.252		David LaForge, Lad.20		William Lake, Res.2
	Robert Lane, Eng.55		Peter Langone, Sqd.252		Scott Larsen, Lad.15		Lt. Joseph Leavey, Lad.15		Neil Leavy, Eng.217		Daniel Libretti, Res.2
	Carlos Lillo, Paramedic		Robert Linnane, Lad.20		Michael Lynch, Eng.40		Michael Lynch, Lad.4		Michael Lyons, Sqd.41		Patrick Lyons, Sqd.252
	Joseph Maffeo, Lad.101		William Mahoney, Res 4		Joseph Maloney, Lad.3 (D)		B.C. Joseph Marchbanks Jr, Bat.12		Lt. Charles Margiotta, Bat.22		Kenneth Marino, Res.1
	John Marshall, Eng.23		Lt. Peter Martin, Res.2		Lt. Paul Martini, Eng.23		Joseph Mascali, T.S.U. 2		Keithroy Maynard, Eng.33		Brian McAleese, Eng.226
	John McAvoy, Lad.3		Thomas McCann, Bat.8		Lt. William McGinn, Sqd.18		B.C. William McGovern, Bat.2 (D)		Dennis McHugh, Lad.13		Robert McMahon, Lad.20
	Robert McPadden, Eng.23		Terence McShane, Lad.101		Timothy McSweeney, Lad.3		Martin McWilliams, Eng.22 (D)		Raymond Meisenheimer, Res.3		Charles Mendez, Lad.7
	Steve Mercado, Eng.40		Douglas Miller, Res.5		Henry Miller Jr, Lad.105		Robert Minara, Lad.25		Thomas Mingione, Lad.132		Lt. Paul Mitchell, Bat.1
	Capt. Louis Modafferi, Res.5		Lt. Dennis Mojica, Res.1 (D)		Manuel Mojica, Sqd.18 (D)		Carl Molinaro, Lad.2		Michael Montesi, Res.1		Capt. Thomas Moody, Div.1
	B.C. John Moran, Bat.49		Vincent Morello, Lad.35		Christopher Mozzillo, Eng.55		Richard Muldowney Jr, Lad.07		Michael Mullan, Lad.12		Dennis Mulligan, Lad.2
	Lt. Raymond Murphy, Lad.16		Lt. Robert Nagel, Eng.58		John Napolitano, Res.2		Peter Nelson, Res.4		Gerard Nevins, Res.1		Dennis O'Berg, Lad.105
	Lt. Daniel O'Callaghan, Lad.4		Douglas Oelschlager, Lad.15		Joseph Ogren, Lad.3		Lt. Thomas O'Hagan, Bat.4		Samuel Otice, Lad.4		Patrick O'Keefe, Res.1
	Capt. William O'Keefe, Div.15 (D)		Eric Olsen, Lad.15		Jeffery Olsen, Eng.10		Steven Olson, Lad.3		Kevin O'Rourke, Res.2		Michael Otten, Lad.35
	Jeffery Palazzo, Res.5		B.C. Orio Palmer, Bat.7		Frank Palombo, Lad.105		Paul Pansini, Eng.10		B.C. John Paolillo, Bat.11		James Pappageorge, Eng.23
	Robert Parro, Eng.8		Durrell Pearsall, Res.4		Lt. Glenn Perry, Bat.12		Lt. Philip Petti, Bat.7		Lt. Kevin Pfeifer, Eng. 33		Lt. Kenneth Phelan, Bat.32
	Christopher Pickford, Eng.201		Shawn Powell, Eng.207		Vincent Princiotta, Lad.7		Kevin Prior, Sqd.252		B.C. Richard Prunty, Bat.2 (D)		Lincoln Quappe, Res.2
	Lt. Michael Quilty, Lad.11		Ricardo Quinn, Paramedic		Leonard Ragaglia, Eng.54		Michael Ragusa, Eng.279		Edward Rall, Res.2		Adam Rand, Sqd.288
	Donald Regan, Res.3		Lt. Robert Regan, Lad.118		Christian Regenhard, Lad.131		Kevin Reilly, Eng.207		Lt. Vernon Richard, Lad.7		James Riches, Eng.4
	Joseph Rivelli, Lad.25		Michael Roberts, Eng.214		Michael E. Roberts, Lad.35		Anthony Rodriguez, Eng.279		Matthew Rogan, Lad.11		Nicholas Rossomando, Res.5
	Paul Ruback, Lad.25		Stephen Russell, Eng.55		Lt. Michael Russo, S.O.C.		B.C. Matthew Ryan, Bat.1		Thomas Sabella, Lad.13		Christopher Santora, Eng.54
	John Santore, Lad.5 (D)		Gregory Saucedo, Lad.5		Dennis Scauso, H.M. 1		John Schardt, Eng.201		B.C. Fred Scheffold, Bat.12		Thomas Schoales, Eng.4
	Gerard Schrang, Res.3 (D)		Gregory Sikorsky, Sqd.41		Stephen Siller, Sqd.1		Stanley Smagala Jr, Eng.226		Kevin Smith, H.M. 1		Leon Smith Jr, Lad 118
	Robert Spear Jr, Eng.26		Joseph Spor, Res.3		B.C. Lawrence Stack, Bat.50		Cpt. Timothy Stackpole, Div.11 (D)		Gregory Stajk, Lad.13		Jeffery Stark, Eng.230
	Benjamin Suarez, Lad.21		Daniel Suhr, Eng.216 (D)		Lt. Christopher Sullivan, Lad.111		Brian Sweeney, Res.1		Sean Tallon, Lad.10		Allan Tarasiewicz, Res.5
	Paul Tegtmeier, Eng.4		John Tierney, Lad.9		John Tipping II, Lad.4		Hector Tirado Jr, Eng.23		Richard Van Hine, Sqd.41		Peter Vega, Lad.118
	Lawrence Veling, Eng.235		John Vigiano II, Lad.132		Sergio Villanueva, Lad.132		Lawrence Virgilio, Sqd.18 (D)		Lt. Robert Wallace, Eng.205		Jeffery Walz, Lad. 9
	Lt. Michael Warchola, Lad.5 (D)		Capt. Patrick Waters, S.O.C.		Kenneth Watson, Eng.214		Michael Weinberg, Eng.1 (D)		David Weiss, Res.1		Timothy Welty, Sqd.288
	Eugene Whelan, Eng.230		Edward White, Eng.230		Mark Whitford, Eng.23		Lt. Glenn Wilkinson, Eng.238 (D)		B.C. John Williamson, Bat.6 (D)		Capt. David Wooley, Lad.4
	Raymond York, Eng.285 (D)

The List of 343 NYFD Firefighters killed at the World Trade Center on 911 - full list with pictures from the unofficial NYFD Blog: http://nyfd.com/9_11_wtc.html