September 11 trial could reignite rights debate

The simulated-drowning interrogation technique has become the focus for debate in Congress and abroad over U.S. treatment of terrorism suspects. The U.N. human rights chief last week said waterboarding should be prosecuted as torture.

Civil rights advocates and terrorism analysts said its use on Mohammed, coupled with questions over the legitimacy of the military commissions set up in 2006 to try terrorism suspects, threatened to undermine the credibility of any verdict.