Military Judge Refuses Delay Request in Case of Alleged USS Cole Plotter

A military judge has refused to grant a 120-day delay in the case of a Guantanamo detainee accused of planning the deadly attack on the USS Cole.

The government had sought the delay in 21 pending cases while President Obama reviews the military commissions process. The judge, Army Col. James Pohl, said the government's reasoning was unpersuasive, the Washington Post reports.

The decision could force prosecutors to drop charges against the detainee, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the story says.

Other judges have granted delay requests. Obama has signed an executive order closing Guantanamo within a year. Under one of the orders, the cases of 245 detainees still at Guantanamo will be reviewed to determine whether prosecutions should continue or the prisoners should be released.