Judge Orders Release Of Gitmo Detainee Described In The 9/11 Commission Report As A Significant Al-Qaeda Operative Providing Advice To 9-11 Hijackers

The AP reports that a "judge has ordered the release of a Guantanamo Bay detainee described in the 9/11 commission report as a significant al-Qaida operative who provided advice to three of the Sept. 11 hijackers. The ruling in favor of detainee Mohamedou Ould Salahi was disclosed Monday in a two-sentence court entry. U.S. District Judge James Robertson will issue a written decision at a later date explaining his reasons for granting the detainee's petition. The detainee remains at the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the Obama administration could appeal Robertson's order. Even if the administration were to decide against appealing, Salahi would remain at Guantanamo until U.S. diplomats found a nation willing to accept him. The 9/11 Commission report says Salahi was known to U.S. and German intelligence a decade ago and living in Germany when he gave instructions to four men about how to reach Afghanistan to train for jihad. Three of the men later became Sept. 11 hijackers — Mohamed Atta, Ziad Jarrah and Marwan al Shehhi. The fourth was Ramzi Binalshibh, who helped coordinate the 9/11 plot and who now faces trial. Salahi was arrested in his home country of Mauritania late in 2001." Tweet