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Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand

By Jeralyn, Section Terror Trials
Posted on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 09:13:57 AM EST
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Zacarias Moussaoui, whom I have often referred to as his own worst enemy, is on the witness stand, testifying against his lawyers' advice. I just finished a Fox News segment on the trial, and will be back online updating this afternoon.

TChris wrote a great post Saturday on Moussaoui and other defendants who insist on taking the stand.

< The War Against Dissent | Moussaoui Verdict Form: Questions Jury Will Have to Answer >

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    Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand | 16 comments (16 topical)
    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#2)
    by Dadler on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 10:01:51 AM EST
    narius, By treating this problem with a "these people" mentality, you fall prey to the same simple-simon mentality that got us into this war (entirely unrelated to 9/11) in the first place. "These people" were going to welcome us. "These people" just wanted to be like us. "These people" are the biggest problem. Also, where is the global dialogue on religion that the US should be leading. All this freedom of religion, you think we'd be able to lead the global mind into a more tolerant and educated view of all religions, what they share, what they tell us about ourselves, how they've been rewritten by people with many different agendas over the centuries, even up to today. We don't even use the real gifts of freedom to "fight" a "battle" entirely different than the one "these people" wanted us to be drawn into. Moussaoai is one guy, getting a trial. That's it.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 10:39:27 AM EST
    "Hefty Sentence" is a bit of an understatement of the stakes in the case at this point. The issue is whether he wants to be a martyr or be in prison for the rest of his life. He has already pleaded guilty.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#5)
    by Dadler on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 10:45:56 AM EST
    Narius, Again, do you honestly believe that the tiny fraction of Islam that makes up the Afghan court system (which still released the guy, thankfully) represents ALL of Islam worldwide? It is precisely that dialogue that has saved this guy's life. What I'm saying is starting a global dialogue, with everyone, about the role of religion in history and the present. If that isn't part of this effort, when religous extremism is a significan part of the equation of terrorism, then I don't see how we're going to win the larger effort. And there are plenty of Christians who think everyone who doesn't believe in Jesus is going to hell and deserves what they get. Extremism is not exclusive to anyone, any religion, or any region.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 10:52:19 AM EST
    Yes, many Christians believe that non-believers are going to hell, but they are not trying to send them there. How is this extreme Islam so different from Nazism? They are trying to kill as many infidels as possible. The following is a quote that the left just loves to cite as a warning of the evils of George Bush, but it is much more aptly applied to radical Islam: First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the trade unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew, so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me. - Martin Niemoeller (1892-1984)

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 11:04:28 AM EST
    Can you please stay on the topic of Moussaoui's trial testimony?

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 11:29:31 AM EST
    If his testimony to this point hasn't silenced his apologists, I don't suppose anything can. Execution is imminent.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#9)
    by Dadler on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 11:31:45 AM EST
    Back on the subject of the Moussaoui trial, I just read this update. The defendent is certainly digging his own grave, it seems clear.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#12)
    by Dadler on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 11:47:00 AM EST
    narius, settle your kettle, bro. i'm an agnostic, as well. just anti-dp, which obviously your arent. as for christians calling for the death of someone, there are a fringe who do (see the nutjob apocalyptics, white supremists, patriots, militias, abortion doctor killers, the fred phelps-like kooks, etc.), just like there is a fringe of islam who do the same. i stand by my statement. who brought down the murrah federal building again? remember when we all thought it HAD to be middle eastern terrorists? it was a white christian boy who'd served in desert storm. or has that, and the reality it still represents, been earased by 9/11? Everything else just doesn't exist anymore? Again, I stand by my statment. Extremism isn't exclusive. Oklahoma City happened. Abortion clinic terrorism happens. Hatred is spewed from pulpits tiny and large all over this huge nation. I've heard it. My dad lives in the deep south. Believe me, I've heard it loud and clear. Sorry, TL, I'm done.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#14)
    by Dadler on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 12:19:34 PM EST
    i'll let you have the last word, narius, not that i concur, but to respect TL's wishes on this thread.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#15)
    by cpinva on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 12:24:01 PM EST
    have read the updates. the guy certainly isn't helping himself, with respect to the jury liking him or not, that's certainly clear. he also just recently stated that he and another were supposed to hijack a plane and fly it into the white house, on 9/11. oddly enough, that isn't what he was charged with, probably because he never had the opportunity. the govt, the defendent's ego or whatever aside, still doesn't seem to have proven its central thesis: that by availing himself of his 5th amendment rights, he is somehow complicit in murder. what mr moussaoui wants is irrelevant, it's what the law requires that is at issue. that's what the jury should render its verdict based on, period.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 05:47:17 PM EST
    Posted by Chase Tettleton March 27, 2006 12:29 PM
    If his testimony to this point hasn't silenced his apologists, I don't suppose anything can.
    Execution is imminent.
    What, that he's a whack job? Who has said a word to the contrary, pal? Produce. The nitwit insisted on taking the stand against the advice of counsel. He has bailed out the prosecution at every possible juncture. Yeah, he's dug his own grave. He's nuts. That's the defense's only shot. That they look at him and say, this clown is so crazy, he won't use the insanity defense. If the prosecution had to win this case on their own merits, he would have walked out of there a long time ago, so, I ask you again, just who has apologized for this moron? Ante up, or stuff a sock in it, 'cause you're just another wingnut with nothin' to say and you're sayin' it much too loudly.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Mar 27, 2006 at 05:56:46 PM EST
    Posted by JRT March 27, 2006 11:45 AM
    What he deserves and what he should get are not neccesarily the same. He deserves death, but that may be what he wants-to be a martyr.
    Boy, I'll bet there's not a Christmas Present yet that's come down the pike that you can't open by the 4th of July.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 28, 2006 at 03:10:52 AM EST
    The whole testimony points to a crazy criminal intent with no mind as its guide, only the the spirit.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 28, 2006 at 08:30:09 AM EST
    Posted by charliedontsurf1 March 27, 2006 06:56 PM Posted by JRT March 27, 2006 11:45 AM What he deserves and what he should get are not neccesarily the same. He deserves death, but that may be what he wants-to be a martyr. Boy, I'll bet there's not a Christmas Present yet that's come down the pike that you can't open by the 4th of July.
    ?????????????? What's your point? You are SO clever Charlie, that a dim bulb like me can't understand.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 28, 2006 at 09:05:05 AM EST
    Ah, you underestimate yourself, jrt. Anyone with your firm grasp of the obvious has it within you to pull it off. I've got faith in ya.

    Re: Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Mar 28, 2006 at 09:44:48 AM EST
    OK clever charlie so you are mocking me for stating the obvious. Which part was obvious? That he deserves death?- Yeah -obvious to me, but smart guys like you tend to disagree with me. The smug "smartest guy in the room" attitude of lefties is one of your most annoying traits. I can't wait for your wity no-reply. The hairy hippy girls will surely swoon.

    Zacarias Moussaoui Takes the Stand | 16 comments (16 topical)