In what is rather politically convenient timing, the Guantanamo kangaroo court has formally decided to charge Khalid Sheik Mohammed, Ammar al Baluchi; Ramzi bin al Shibh, a Yemeni who allegedly organized the Sept. 11 suicide squads; and alleged co-conspirators Walid Bin Attash and Mustafa al Hawsawi with capital offenses relating to the 911 attacks.

If the Bush administration gets its way, they’ll try to have the trial in process in September and October, though I think that the defense might throw a monkey wrench into the works.

The potential 6th defendant, Mohammad al-Qahtani, had all charges dropped, probably because all of the evidence against him was as a result of torture, though Paul Keil of TPM has an alternate hypothesis:

The Convening Authority Susan Crawford had planned to include charges against Mohammed al Qahtani, the supposed 20th hijacker, along with the other five, but Qahtani has been struck from the charging sheet. Now, Qahtani’s lawyer has immediately jumped to the conclusion that Crawford’s decision to dismiss the charges affirms “that everything he said at Guantánamo was extracted through torture — or the threat of torture,” and that his treatment was “so well documented and unconscionable that he is unprosecutable.” But I gotta figure that this crew is sharper than that. Crawford can bring those chargers against Qahtani at any time. The 20th hijacker deserves his own unique launch, to be sure. Maybe in October?

Me, I’m a cynic, so I’m inclined to go with Mr. Keil.