Justice in Limbo: 25 Years On, 9/11 Families Wait for Closure

The passing of time has been both a healer and a heartbreaker for families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The former has not yet arrived for those still waiting for closure.

Tom Resta’s story is one among thousands. His brother John and wife Sylvia were killed on the 92nd floor of the World Trade Center while working as traders. Their unborn child was due any day, and their nursery was painted with cheerful characters from Blue’s Clues. Resta has made multiple trips to Guantanamo Bay to witness the pre-trial proceedings against alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.

The case’s progress is a stark reminder of the system’s failings. Twenty years have passed since Mohammed was brought to Guantanamo, where he remains without being convicted. A military prison was established on the base in Cuba during the “war on terror,” and the pre-trial process has been so lengthy that it has seen five different military judges preside over the case.

A trial date was recently set for June 2028, but Resta is bracing himself for further delays. Some of his relatives fear they may not live long enough to see justice served. Stephan Gerhardt has made six trips to Guantanamo and wants to see convictions before he passes on.

The main reason for these delays is the contentious issue of Mohammed’s torture and that of his alleged co-conspirators. Experts point out that every aspect of this matter has been litigated, including waterboarding and stress positions. The prosecution’s best evidence – confessions made by Mohammed to FBI agents – was recently thrown out due to their lack of voluntariness.

This ruling raises questions about the validity of other evidence, such as intercepted phone calls and secret recordings. It is uncertain whether these will feature in the trial. This development is particularly galling for families who have waited this long for closure.

The “war on terror” has left an indelible mark on American history. The George W Bush administration’s admission to using “enhanced interrogation methods” – now widely recognized as torture – was banned by President Barack Obama on his second day in office.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of playing with fire when it comes to human rights. While politicians may justify such actions as necessary, history has shown that they often come at a terrible cost. The impact on families who have lost loved ones in 9/11 is only one aspect of this tragic legacy.

Investigations and inquiries into the handling of suspects like Mohammed have led to revelations about CIA prisons known as “black sites” and the use of torture to extract information. While some may argue that these methods were effective, the damage they have caused cannot be overstated.

The trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is not just a case about individual justice; it’s also about accountability for the United States’ actions during the “war on terror.” As the clock ticks down to 2028, families like Resta’s and Gerhardt’s will continue to wait with bated breath. But what happens next may determine whether this trial finally brings closure or further heartbreak.

The silence of justice in this case is deafening. It serves as a stark reminder that time heals wounds but does not erase them. The pain of 9/11 remains, and it’s up to those responsible for delivering justice to prove that they are committed to seeing it through to the end.