Developments in United States v. Al-Bahlul

Two interesting and related developments in the Al-Bahlul appeal now pending before the D.C. Circuit: first, it seems that in mid-April, the accused had passed a note to a JTF-GTMO guard, in which Al-Bahlul (among other things) said he wished to "withdraw the case filed to appeal/challeng[e] the military commission's ruling."

You can find the April missive---which JTF-GTMO personnel filed with the Clerk of the D.C. Circuit on Thursday, along with a cover note---here.  Al-Bahlul's letter says as follows:

Defense counsel quickly followed Al-Bahlul's letter with a letter of its own, which it filed filed today. Here is the defense attorneys' submission, also addressed to the D.C. Circuit's clerk: