OSAMA bin Laden's suspected "media director" rejected US terrorism court proceedings against him and renewed his allegiance to the al-Qaeda leader today in a hearing (conveniently) marred by technical flaws in a new Guantanamo courtroom.



Comment: Can we just start with the absolute lunacy of the idea that bin Laden, who is probably long dead and has always been claimed to be hiding out in caves in Afghanistan, would have a "media director"? Just how stupid do they think we are?



With the lights momentarily out due to a power failure in the windowless military courtroom set up to try Guantanamo prisoners, Al Hamza Ahmad Suliman al Bahlul declined to enter a plea at his arraignment on three terrorism-related charges.

He had earlier held up a handwritten "boycott" sign and declined to answer when asked whether he was rejecting his military lawyer, though in a lengthy statement to the court he indicated he would not contest the charges against him.

"I am not going to say I'm not from al-Qaeda," Bahlul said. "We will continue in our jihad and nothing is going to stop us."


Comment: Wow. Sounds like they've hired the writers of 24 at Guantanamo.



Bahlul, who is from Yemen, was charged with conspiracy, solicitation to commit murder and providing material support for terrorism. He was accused of preparing a propaganda video glorifying the attack on the American destroyer Cole, preparing the videotaped will of September 11 ringleader Mohamed Atta, and operating computer and communications gear for bin Laden.



Comment: Well, this boy sure got around, didn't he? Sounds like they were flying him around in a private jet all over the world with a whole production crew in tow. And can't you just here bin Laden calling for him just before 9/11 to produce that videotaped will of boogeyman Mohamed Atta. "Atta is taking one for the team. I want you to send out the best. Send out...Bahlul!"

Sheesh, what utter nonsense!



"I am renewing my allegiance to Sheikh Osama bin Laden," said Bahlul, who wore a beard and loose green shirt as he sat at the corner of the defence table, with two military bailiffs behind him.

The hearing at the US naval base in southeastern Cuba was marred by audio-visual failures and the power outage that for several minutes darkened the courtroom, which was completed earlier this year as part of a $US2 million ($2.11 million) court complex built to handle a wave of trials expected to begin later this month.

The session continued in the dark, as Bahlul was asked whether he wished to enter a plea.



Comment: Ding ding ding!! How convenient that the reporters, who had to hear the proceedings via microphones in the viewer's gallery, were suddenly left in the dark with these technological problems!



"Apparently not," said the judge, Army Colonel Peter Brownback.

Earlier flaws in the audio and visual systems prevented journalists and other observers from hearing the opening proceedings in the viewers' gallery behind a soundproof double-glass curtain.

The flaws also frustrated Col Brownback, who moved about the courtroom in search of a working microphone and complained, "I don't know what's wrong with the audio in this place".



Comment: There's a good question.



Bahlul was unflustered. Apparently referring to the observers' signals of audio problems, he said, "I am a media man myself. I know the effect of media. Trust me. I really don't care".



Comment: That's right, because it doesn't matter what he says or what the truth is. The media will only print the propaganda.



Col Brownback allowed Bahlul to act as his own lawyer for now, but kept his military lawyer, Air Force Major David Frakt, on standby basis.

He set the next hearing in the case for June 26-27, to give time, he said, for Bahlul to consider whether he wanted a lawyer to represent him.

The United States has been holding foreign captives at Guantanamo since January 2002, in a detention and interrogation operation widely criticised as a violation of human rights.

Charges are pending against 14 prisoners in the special court set up to try captives the United States considers to be unlawful enemy combatants who do not merit trial in traditional civilian and military courts.