Chilling confessions by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged Pakistani mastermind of the 9/11 terror strike, have shaken the world of the counter-terrorism organizations as to what plans al-Qaeda had set out but did not get to execute them.

Other than the destruction of world trade towers, which the terrorist outfit successfully executed, plans were primed to target the Library Tower in California, the Sears Tower in Chicago, the Plaza Bank in Washington State and the Empire State Building in New York, according to the transcript.

The alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh has confessed to his role in 29 other terror plots around the world that includes claims to be behind plots to assassinate the late Pope John Paul II and former US President Bill Clinton.

He took responsibility for planning, financing and following up with operations to destroy US military vessels and oil tankers in the Straits of Hormuz, the Straits of Gibraltar, the port of Singapore, the Panama Canal and for surveying and financing the assassination of several former American presidents, including president Carter.

Many of the operations, including plans to attack Heathrow Airport and Big Ben in London, never happened.

The closed-door hearing at the US base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba held at the weekend ruled he was an “enemy combatant” who should remain in detention indefinitely.

The only thing of significance in Mohammed’s admission lies in the fact that he made the statements at the hearing, which could now lead to a trial before a military tribunal. Importantly, his confession in a way provided a vivid account of al-Qaeda’s activities and how they mirrored the preparations of other terrorist attacks.

Yesterday’s proceeding not only leaves Khalid’s ‘A to Z’ role in doubt, this sudden confession raises more questions than answers. It reignites questions about the broader hijacking plot and whether al-Qaeda had firm plans to conduct another wave of attacks on targets all over the world.

This is a confession in some way, but in terms of answering the question of how big is the al-Qaeda network, that is still up in the air. The book still isn’t closed on 9/11.

Read transcripts and summaries released by the Pentagon