If Moussaoui doesn't get the needle...

[Rick Lee]

If this doesn't get him the death penalty, then we really need to just abolish the fed. death penalty. Who warrants it if Moussaoui doesn't?

Moussaoui Says He Planned
9/11 Attack With Reid

Associated Press
March 28, 2006 6:07 a.m.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Al Qaeda conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui testified Monday that he and would-be shoe bomber Richard Reid were supposed to hijack a fifth airplane and fly it into the White House as part of the attack that unfolded Sept. 11, 2001.

Mr. Moussaoui's testimony on his own behalf stunned the courtroom. His account was in stark contrast to his previous statements in which he said the White House attack was to come later if the U.S. refused to release a radical Egyptian sheik imprisoned on earlier terrorist convictions.

On Dec. 22, 2001, Mr. Reid was subdued by passengers when he attempted to detonate a bomb in his shoe aboard American Airlines Flight 63 from Paris to Miami. There were 197 people on board. The plane was diverted to Boston, where it landed safely.

Mr. Moussaoui told the court he knew the World Trade Center attack was coming and that he lied to investigators when arrested in August 2001 because he wanted it to happen.

"You lied because you wanted to conceal that you were a member of al-Qaida?" prosecutor Rob Spencer asked. "That's correct," Mr. Moussaoui said. Mr. Spencer: "You lied so the plan could go forward?" Mr. Moussaoui: "That's correct."

Prosecutor Rob Spencer: You lied because you wanted to conceal that you were a member of al Qaeda?
Zacarias Moussaoui: That's correct.
Spencer: You lied so the plan could go forward?
Moussaoui: That's correct.The exchange was key to the government's case that the attacks might have been averted if Mr. Moussaoui had been more cooperative following his arrest. Mr. Moussaoui told the court he knew the attacks were coming some time after August 2001 and bought a radio so he could hear them unfold. Specifically, he said he knew the World Trade Center was going to be attacked, but asserted he was not part of that plot and didn't know the details.

Nineteen men pulled off the Sept. 11 attacks on New York in Washington in the worst act of terrorism ever on U.S. soil. "I had knowledge that the Twin Towers would be hit," Mr. Moussaoui said. "I didn't know the details of this."

Asked by his lawyer why he signed his guilty plea in April as "the 20th hijacker," Mr. Moussaoui replied: "Because everybody used to refer to me as the 20th hijacker and it was a bit of fun."

Before Mr. Moussaoui took the stand, his lawyers made a last attempt to stop him from testifying, but failed. Defense attorney Gerald Zerkin argued that his client would not be a competent witness because he has contempt for the court, only recognizes Islamic law and therefore "the affirmation he undertakes would be meaningless."

Mr. Moussaoui at first denied he was to have been a fifth hijack pilot but under cross examination spoke of the plan to attack the White House. He said Mr. Reid was the only person he knew for sure would have been on that mission, but others were discussed.

Mr. Reid, a self-proclaimed member of al Qaeda who has pledged support to Osama bin Laden, pleaded guilty in October 2002 to trying to blow up Flight 63 and was sentenced to life in prison.

Mr. Moussaoui testified that at one point he was excluded from pre-hijacking operations because he had gotten in trouble with his al Qaeda superiors on a 2000 trip to Malaysia. He said it was only after he was called back to Afghanistan and talked with Osama bin Laden that he was approved again for the operation. "My position was, like you say, under review."

Previous testimony indicated that Mr. Moussaoui had irritated his hosts in Malaysia who were members of an al Qaeda affiliate. Although al Qaeda was a well-financed group, he had asked his Malaysian hosts for money to take flight training.

The 19 terrorists on Sept. 11 hijacked and crashed four airliners, killing nearly 3,000 people in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and on the planes. The intended target of the plane that crashed into a Pennsylvania field remains unknown.

Before Mr. Moussaoui took the stand, the court heard testimony that two months before the attacks a CIA deputy chief waited in vain for permission to tell the FBI about a "very high interest" al Qaeda operative who became one of the hijackers. The official, a senior figure in the CIA's Laden unit, said he sought authorization on July 13, 2001, to send information to the FBI but got no response for 10 days, then asked again.

As it turned out, the information on Khalid al-Mihdhar did not reach the FBI until late August. At the time, CIA officers needed permission from a special unit before passing certain intelligence on to the FBI.

The official was identified only as John. His written testimony was read into the record.

"John's" testimony was part of the defense's case that federal authorities missed multiple opportunities to catch hijackers and perhaps thwart the 9/11 plot. His testimony included an e-mail sent by FBI supervisor Michael Maltbie discussing Moussaoui but playing down his terrorist connections. Maltbie's e-mail said "there's no indication that [Moussaoui] had plans for any nefarious activity."

He sent that e-mail to the CIA even after receiving a lengthy memo from the FBI agent who arrested Mr. Moussaoui and suspected him of being a terrorist with plans to hijack aircraft.

Prosecutors argue that Mr. Moussaoui, a French citizen, thwarted a prime opportunity to track down the 9/11 hijackers and possibly unravel the plot when he was arrested in August 2001 on immigration violations and lied to the FBI about his al Qaeda membership and plans to hijack a plane. Had Mr. Moussaoui confessed, the FBI could have pursued leads that would have led them to most of the hijackers, government witnesses have testified.

To win the death penalty, prosecutors must first prove that Mr. Moussaoui's actions -- specifically, his lies -- were directly responsible for at least one death on Sept. 11. If they fail, Mr. Moussaoui would get life in prison.

[Joeaksa]

Needle is too painless for him. .45 to the gut behind the courthouse is a better punishment. Then bury him facing down with a hog to keep him company...

Before anyone jumps on me over the above comments, if this POS had confessed about the hijacking on 9/11 it would have saved thousands of innocent lives. He is just as guilty as those flying the jets because he knew of the plan and told a story designed to confuse the police and FBI.

[widebody911]

I'm starting to get a little skeptical here, particularly the bit about Richard Reid. Next he's going to claim credit for the Kennedy assassination...

[Rick Lee]

Folks like Moussaoui should be covered in pig fat and then fed to pigs, feet first, like that poor schmuck in Hannibal.

[legion]

Originally posted by widebody911
I'm starting to get a little skeptical here, particularly the bit about Richard Reid. Next he's going to claim credit for the Kennedy assassination...

Who cares?

If he makes the statements in court, under oath, then he should get the punishment.

[Rodeo]

I guess you have not followed the trial. If he does not get the death penalty, it will have nothing to do with the federal death penalty law, and everything to do with the most incompetent group of prosecutors the trial judge says she has seen since taking the bench.

The guy is begging to die, and the bumbling Justice Department can't accommodate him.

Newsflash: The Justice Department is as incompetent as the rest of the Bush administration. Despite some very good cases, it has repeatedly struck out in terrorism cases, in many instances in a spectacular fashion.

But as long as Bush swaggers for the camera like Rove tells him to, the useful idiots will think he has made us safer. Nothing could be further from the truth.

[fastpat]

There shouldn't be a federal death penalty in the first place. This guy should have been tried under state laws which prohibit murder, or attempted murder.

Since this guy was in jail, if memory serves, he can't be charged with either. I'm sure that there are state laws that cover what he did commit, and that's what he should be charged with.

[motion]

Originally posted by widebody911
I'm starting to get a little skeptical here, particularly the bit about Richard Reid. Next he's going to claim credit for the Kennedy assassination...

Definitely something going on here. I think he's messing around a bit. Cmon, Richard Reid? Who'd want that dufus on his team attempting to hijack a plane? And just why would Moussaoui spill his guts about "the truth" in court? What does he have to gain? I'm guessing its more mis-information. He is still al Qaida, after all.

[Rick Lee]

Moussoui was in jail long before Richard Reid's arrest. There's no way they could have communicated once Moussaoui was in jail, so his claims should be very easy to corroborate or refute.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Rodeo
I guess you have not followed the trial. If he does not get the death penalty, it will have nothing to do with the federal death penalty law, and everything to do with the most incompetent group of prosecutors the trial judge says she has seen since taking the bench.

The guy is begging to die, and the bumbling Justice Department can't accommodate him.

Newsflash: The Justice Department is as incompetent as the rest of the Bush administration. Despite some very good cases, it has repeatedly struck out in terrorism cases, in many instances in a spectacular fashion.

But as long as Bush swaggers for the camera like Rove tells him to, the useful idiots will think he has made us safer. Nothing could be further from the truth.

And I wonder how many of these "bumbling Justice Dept pukes" were appointed by someone other than Bush?

Sure you are not a parrott? The same things keep coming out of your keyboard, no matter what the subject.

I heard that the crop of asparagus in Europe is poor this year, must be Bush's fault...

[Jim Richards]

Well, the total solar eclipse is tomorrow. With all the noise coming from the left and from the neo-cons, it's kind of like ancient times, when the natives would make a bunch of noise to try to scare away the demons and dragons that were eating the sun. Personally, I think it's Rove.

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Originally posted by fastpat
There shouldn't be a federal death penalty in the first place. This guy should have been tried under state laws which prohibit murder, or attempted murder.

I know you're a strong proponent of states' rights (like any good Libertarian), but I have to call you on a blanket statement like this.

What about high treason? Selling State (not "state") secrets, etc. in a way that jeopardizes lives or leads to loss of life?

Well, I know your answer is probably going to be "there shouldn't be any State secrets to sell" but that's a larger issue.

[Cdnone1]

Rodeo
A little of topic but how do you get through the day? If the traffic light turns red in front of you do you curse Bush? If your Fed EX is late is that incompetent bast@rd Bush the cause?I hope you are active in campagining for the Democrates becuase you sure need an outlet for your rage
Steve

[Rodeo]

He's nuttier than a fruitcake. That has been evident for a long, long time.

[Rodeo]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
I heard that the crop of asparagus in Europe is poor this year, must be Bush's fault...

Nope. But the numerous blown terrorist trials are.

If we win, he gets credit. If they get bungled, like virtually ALL of them have, Bush gets the blame.

That's the way it works, even in the neocon world.

[Rodeo]

Originally posted by Cdnone1
Rodeo
A little of topic but how do you get through the day? If the traffic light turns red in front of you do you curse Bush? If your Fed EX is late is that incompetent bast@rd Bush the cause?I hope you are active in campagining for the Democrates becuase you sure need an outlet for your rage
Steve

I guess by calling my criticism "rage" you intend to marginalize it. And me.

It's not rage. It's valid criticism of the worst presidency of our generation. Maybe the worst ever.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Rodeo
He's nuttier than a fruitcake. That has been evident for a long, long time.

Yes, we know that you are, but thats why we pray for you every night.

Like CD said above... how do you get through the day? Parking ticket, its Bush's fault. Run out of toilet paper in the stall, well Bush was there before you and used it up. Get to the checkout in the grocery store and the swipe strip on your credit card does not work. Well it must be Bush who used your card while you were asleep...

Hope you work your way out of this phobia and soon before it drives you nuts.

[Rodeo]

Very valid points Joe. You sure know how to throw a knockout punch.

Now go find those WMDs you are convinced are there ... wanna borrow my metal detector? fint gave it back

[Cdnone1]

You marginalize yourself . You are welcome to your opinion and criticism but your ability to turn every topic into a full blown veniment Bush bash shows your criticism has turned to rage whether you want to step back and admit it or not.
Step away from your hate for a moment. Go for a walk, get some fresh air enjoy your day
Steve

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by Cdnone1
You marginalize yourself . You are welcome to your opinion and criticism but your ability to turn every topic into a full blown veniment Bush bash shows your criticism has turned to rage whether you want to step back and admit it or not.

Step away from your hate for a moment. Go for a walk, get some fresh air enjoy your day

Steve

Bingo! He says the same thing about every situation and argument out there.

Give us some facts and prove your case, not just ranting and raving.

Show us where the WMD were destroyed and shut us up, please! Problem is that you cannot do it and until they are either found or proven destroyed, there is a chance that they are out there waiting to be used by the next sicko...