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Moussaoui: Bumbling Holy Warrior

The UK papers get it right: Moussaoui was a hanger-on, a bumbling holy warrior, who was not connected to 9/11. Neither was Richard Reid.

The Times Online:

The notion that Moussaoui and Reid were central to the 9/11 conspiracy -- and had been entrusted with the task of destroying the White House -- was "pretty fantastical", one Washington official said. "If there had ever been any evidence that Reid was in any way connected to this, the Feds would be all over him," the official added. Another source said there were no plans to interview Reid about the allegations.

The Sunday Herald:

Prior to his last-minute change of story, the judge, Leonie Brinkema, wrote: "It simply cannot be the case that Moussaoui, a remote and minor player in al-Qaeda's war against the United States can lawfully be sentenced to death without any evidence that the defendant himself had any direct involvement in, or knowledge of, the planning and execution of those attacks."

Despite this, Zacarias Moussaoui seems intent, through his 11th-hour 9/11 confession , on two things: securing a place for himself in history as a key member of the 9/11 team, and guaranteeing himself a place in paradise courtesy of a federal execution team.

Why are the Government prosecutors arguing to the jury that Moussaoui finally told the truth at his trial?

As they summed up their case, prosecutors said the Moussaoui who appeared on the witness stand Monday was telling the truth, and they quoted extensively from his testimony. ...Raskin said Moussaoui's version of events was backed up by other evidence showing his activities in August 2001 paralleled those of the hijackers.

Can they be that desperate to convict and execute someone, anyone, over 9/11?

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    Re: Moussaoui: Bumbling Holy Warrior (none / 0) (#1)
    by wishful on Sat Apr 01, 2006 at 05:55:09 PM EST
    The seriousness with which the prosecutors are taking Moussaoui make them a laughing stock.

    Re: Moussaoui: Bumbling Holy Warrior (none / 0) (#2)
    by squeaky on Sat Apr 01, 2006 at 06:18:32 PM EST
    wishful-
    The seriousness with which the prosecutors are taking Moussaoui make them a laughing stock.
    Yes, but they are sure to be promoted if they succede.

    Re: Moussaoui: Bumbling Holy Warrior (none / 0) (#3)
    by Che's Lounge on Sun Apr 02, 2006 at 08:36:32 AM EST
    Well that's TWO bumbling holy warriors we got now! One in jail, one in power.

    Re: Moussaoui: Bumbling Holy Warrior (none / 0) (#4)
    by Edger on Sun Apr 02, 2006 at 08:48:51 AM EST
    TWO bumbling holy warriors we got now! One couldn't hit the side of a barn with a 757, and the other missed when he tried to kill his own lawyer, after hiring Alfred E Newman to front for him.

    Re: Moussaoui: Bumbling Holy Warrior (none / 0) (#5)
    by HK on Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 01:22:39 AM EST
    Wow. Glad to see the UK papers get it right. We do have a pretty good press on the whole, although they are not always so astute. TL - sadly, the answer to your question I believe is 'yes'. I just hope the jury sees some sense.

    Re: Moussaoui: Bumbling Holy Warrior (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 11:32:25 AM EST
    the 19 hijackers of 9/11 were bumbling too-in retrospect, they connected their own dots. unfortunately, no one was looking. Richard Reid would have blown a jetliner out of the sky and he was able to get his explosives on board-it was only the swift actions of the flight crew and passengers, on alert because of 9/11, that saved them. so, scoff at the bumbling of this particular psychotic all you want-don't scoff at what he intended to do though. he was deadly serious about that.