If given the chance, what would you ask the terrorists responsible for your father’s death on 9/11?

 

This question may seem outlandish or impossible, yet for some family members of 9/11 victims, this extraordinary opportunity could soon be within reach after two decades of awaiting justice.

Elizabeth Miller, daughter of firefighter Douglas Miller who perished on that tragic day, knows what she would like to ask:

“Do they have any regrets? Would they change their actions if given the chance? Would they do it all over again, or reconsider?”

Plea agreements negotiated between the prosecution and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the attacks, might soon enable survivors and victims’ families to confront the terrorists involved directly.

 

A recent court ruling has allowed these plea negotiations to proceed, which may lead to a military court hearing at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A significant aspect of the agreement is that it grants families the right to inquire directly to the defendants about the September 11 attacks.

 

According to a letter from the federal Office of Military Commissions, the suggested plea agreement would permit the thousands of families who lost loved ones that day to submit their questions through a secure online platform. The al-Qaeda members have committed to addressing these inquiries within 90 days of receipt.

 

It remains uncertain whether the defendants will provide written responses or answer questions verbally during court proceedings at Guantanamo Bay, where families are regularly flown to attend hearings.

Many survivors of the 9/11 attacks view this potential opportunity to ask questions as a long-awaited chance for closure and to gain insights into the motivations leading to the attacks.

 

Miller leads the group 9/11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, which has campaigned for the opportunity to ask the terrorists questions before they leave the courtroom. The initial question aligns with many others: What sentiments do the terrorists hold today regarding the attacks they carried out?

 

“Did they think their actions were the most successful event they could ever achieve? Because what followed was only more war and violence,” Miller expressed to YSL News.

The questions that will be permitted resemble victim impact statements, which are typically offered in U.S. criminal trials as a way for families to express how the crime has affected their lives. However, the questions in this case hold a historical significance, potentially marking the closing chapter of one of the most memorable tragedies in American history.

YSL News interviewed several family members eager to pose questions to Mohammed in writing. They explained that these inquiries are essential for them to begin healing from the 23-year-old trauma.

 

‘Do you consider the 19 terrorists martyrs?’

William Raff was working at his desk on the 82nd floor of the south tower when the first plane struck the north tower at 8:46 a.m.

 

Following the impact, he and others started to evacuate. However, in a “tragic misjudgment,” authorities ordered everyone back to their desks just before Mohammed’s hijackers crashed Flight 175 into the south tower at 9:03 a.m., resulting in devastation on floors 77 through 85.

As a longtime employee of Fuji Bank, Raff was among those who fortunately managed to escape. Nevertheless, the attacks shattered his life both personally and professionally, leading to the loss of 23 close colleagues. Surviving 9/11 prompted him to re-evaluate his life philosophy and prioritize people above all.

Now 75 years old, Raff seeks to understand if Mohammed’s beliefs have evolved over time.

“Do you still endorse the Islamist justification for the attacks, including the killing of innocent people?” Raff wonders, now serving as a docent at the 9/11 Museum & Memorial. “Do you see the 19 terrorists as martyrs now residing in Paradise?”

 

If there have been any shifts in Mohammed’s ideology, Raff is curious to learn how the alleged terrorist feels about his actions today.

“What message would you like to deliver to the families of those who died as a result of the 9/11 attacks?”

A Long Path to Justice Opportunity to Confront the Killers

Judge Col. Matthew McCall’s ruling to move forward with the plea agreements has countered Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin’s attempt to abandon these deals in August. This decision comes right after Trump’s reelection, who is predicted to robustly oppose arrangements that allow the 9/11 terrorists to avoid execution.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two of his closest associates, Walid bin Attash and Mustafa al-Hawsawi, have consented to plead guilty to the murders of 2,976 individuals and various other offenses, in exchange for the withdrawal of the death penalty. Mohammed is identified as the “main architect of the 9/11 attacks” in the 2004 9/11 Commission report.

 

Growing up in a devout household in Kuwait, Mohammed became fascinated with violent jihad during youth camps, according to the report. After studying in North Carolina, he moved to Pakistan and organized several terrorist plots, including using aircraft as missiles controlled by suicide attackers. He was apprehended in 2003 and remains one of the few surviving al-Qaeda leaders who played a significant role in the 9/11 attacks.

 

Commonly referred to as KSM, Mohammed and his associates have been detained in overseas prisons and Guantanamo for many years without being tried. The torture they endured from CIA agents has complicated efforts to prosecute them, as much of the evidence has been deemed inadmissible.

The plea deals would result in life sentences for Mohammed and his co-conspirators. However, many victims’ relatives believe that the masterminds behind the 9/11 plot should face execution for their roles in the attacks that claimed nearly 3,000 lives on American soil.

‘Can’t Trust Anything That Comes Out of KSM’s Mouth’

Some families of victims have criticized the notion of questioning Mohammed.

Brett Eagleson, who was a 15-year-old sophomore in Connecticut on 9/11, lost his father Bruce, who was working temporarily at the World Trade Center. The last anyone saw, he was returning to his 17th-floor office to retrieve two-way radios for the evacuation.

No inquiries directed at the Guantanamo detainees will alter that reality or bring Eagleson any peace.

“We can’t trust any statements made by KSM,” stated Eagleson, now 38. “He is a skilled deceiver, and his lies are designed to shield his accomplices; nothing he says is genuine.”

 

Nonetheless, Eagleson wishes to pose questions to the individuals who negotiated the deal. Specifically, he wants to know what evidence related to the 9/11 attacks has not been disclosed to the public.

 

For years, Eagleson has led the group 9/11 Justice, striving to compel the federal government to release evidence concerning the attacks, believing it will bolster a lawsuit he and other victims’ relatives have brought against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its alleged involvement in the terrorist incidents.

 

“I want answers from the prosecution,” he emphasized. “Why are they obstructing us while aiding our declared foe? I’m not concerned about what these detainees claim; my priority is understanding why our government is not providing assistance.”

An Opportunity to ‘Connect’ with 9/11 Conspirators

Other family members of victims are anxious that either they or the al-Qaeda operatives may pass away before a trial takes place. They desire an opportunity to communicate directly with KSM and his accomplices to attain a closure that has remained elusive for years.

 

Terry Rockefeller, a former documentary filmmaker who lost her only sister during 9/11, is eager to express some of her unresolved questions about the attack’s planning. For example, she wishes to clarify when the three terrorists realized that the Twin Towers were their targets, if they were aware at all.

She believes this opportunity to ask questions might be the only chance she has to put the events of 9/11 behind her.

More importantly, she views questioning the individuals involved as her sole chance to help them comprehend the suffering they inflicted.

“They took away my sister,” Rockefeller expressed. “What are they feeling being separated from their families?”