9/11 mastermind delivers anti-US diatribe at Guantanamo

US NAVAL BASE AT GUANTANAMO BAY: Wearing a military-style vest, self-declared 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed delivered a scathing anti-American diatribe at a military tribunal Wednesday in what the judge called a "one-time occurrence."

The US president "can legislate assassinations under the name of national security for American citizens," the Kuwaiti-born Pakistani said during the third day of a pre-trial hearing at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Often considered a provocateur, Sheik Mohammed -- known by his initials KSM -- was allowed to speak with a 40-second time delay that would have enabled his comments to be censored had he touched on sensitive issues.

Sheikh Mohammed was detained in a secret CIA prison from 2002 to 2006, and the government has acknowledged that he was subjected to waterboarding 183 times.

"Every dictator can choose" his definition of national security, he said.

"With this definition, many can invade the rule and go against it, many can kill people under the name of national security, many can torture people under the name of national security and detain children under the name of national security, under-aged children."

Sheikh Mohammed spoke calmly in Arabic and waited until each of his sentences had been translated into English. Having studied in the United States, he sometimes paused to correct the interpreter.

"The president can take someone and throw him under the sea under the name of national security," he said in an apparent reference to Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden killed by the United States in Pakistan a year ago.

Donning a thick beard dyed with henna and a white turban, Sheikh Mohammed, who was regarded as one of bin Laden's most trusted and intelligent lieutenants, concluded with "our blood is not made of water."

Following his diatribe, Judge James Pohl alerted him that he would not be allowed to speak again.

"I didn't interrupt you ... this is a one-time occurrence" Pohl said.

The hearings are in preparation for a 9/11 trial to be held at some point next year.