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11th Circuit Upholds Convictions in Liberty City "Sears Tower" Terror Sting

By Jeralyn, Section Terror Trials
Posted on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 08:40:00 AM EST
Tags: Liberty City, Sears Tower (all tags)
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Remember the terror wannabes aka bumbling holy warriors from Florida caught in an FBI terror sting and charged with planning to blow up the Sears Tower in Chicago? The only al-Qaeda member they met with was an undercover informant posing as one. They couldn't even afford boots. It took prosecutors three tries to get a conviction. (More here, all our coverage is here.)

The 11th Circuit upheld their convictions yesterday.

Prosecutor Jacqueline Arango said during sentencing hearings that the U.S. "shouldn't have to wait for people to be harmed to punish these people for their desire to inflict harm."

Punish people for their desires? Wow. I guess punishment for thoughts is coming next. The opinion is here.

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    11th Circuit Upholds Convictions in Liberty City "Sears Tower" Terror Sting | 13 comments (13 topical)

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    How can they have a "war on terror" (5.00 / 0) (#2)
    by Edger on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 08:30:16 AM EST
    without inventing as many "terrorists" as they possibly can?

    The whole purpose of it is to terrorize Americans into submission.

    They deserve all the credit they deserve.

    It works. On most people.

    The Power of Nightmares

    Wait (none / 0) (#3)
    by jbindc on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 11:06:01 AM EST
    So you think there really aren't any organized groups out there determined to do harm to us? Or even a few loosely associated people?

    Maybe some of the threats have been overblowm, but are you of the group who honestly believes that if we go humbly, hat in hand and say, "please forgive us", that all will be well with the world?

    Parent

    Sure there are. (none / 0) (#4)
    by Edger on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 11:18:59 AM EST
    Most are in Washington. And some in other countries are fed up and retaliating.

    I doubt that "please forgive us" would have much effect.

    But if you need a job there is lots of depleted uranium all over the world that needs cleaning up, and doing that might endear you to some. Oodles of unexploded cluster bomblets too.

    Parent

    All will never be well in the world... (none / 0) (#5)
    by kdog on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 11:34:12 AM EST
    as long as billions of humans populate it...but I sure wouldn't mind if we rolled under something like the Hippocratic Oath..."first do no harm".

    Seems like we have no regard for the harm caused in our attempts to prevent harm.

    Parent

    True, but (none / 0) (#6)
    by jbindc on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 12:13:50 PM EST
    Sometimes what I consider "good" in what will benefit me and mine, you will consider "harm".

    Bombing with drones? Obvious.  But how about when it isn't so clear, i.e.  Recogizing the state of Israel.  Why shouldn't we?  Why should we let groups from other middle eastern countries dictate whether or not we recognize Israel?  Is that "doing harm"?  I don't know - but to believe that all we have to do is hang our heads and apologize to these people for existing is on the level of believing that fairy dust makes wishes come true.

    Parent

    That's Simple for Me (none / 0) (#7)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 01:24:36 PM EST
    We defend Israel if it falls under attack, same with any nation, like we did with Kuwait, beyond that, let the world figure out their own problems.  We got plenty to fix here without transversing the globe looking for them.

    And for the record we should recognize Palestine as well.  No one is dictating who we recognize as a sovereign nation but us.  No hanging of heads, but being a little smarter about who we invade, who we sells arms to, who we give cash to, (cough, cough Pakistan) who we trust with secrets, and on and on.

    A large portion of the hate directed as us is because we simply seem unable to keep out nose out of others affairs.  I'm not defending killing people on any level, but that also includes us.  How many people had to die for us to feel secure, not enough, and yet too many.

    But this story isn't about that, this is about some clowns wanting to... name it, and it's about as likely as they would have done anything harmful.  Like high school kids talking about which model they would like to bang, fantasy, and unrealistic.  I think the point being made is we are so GD scared, now we are arresting people because of their desires, which is essentially verbalized thought.  

    Better safe than sorry lock-ups.

    Parent

    I don't necessarily disagree (none / 0) (#8)
    by jbindc on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 01:40:41 PM EST
    with much of what you said.  

    But like it or not, we are the only remaining superpower (until China fully gets online). With t hat comes great responsibilty.  Frankly, I think we should have our noses in more places where we can help - sub Sahara Africa comes to mind.  Isolationism doesn't work - that's been proven already.

    Funny, Italians knew we didn't hate them because we hated Mussolini.  Wonder why other people can't figure that out?

    Parent

    Which Italians ? (none / 0) (#13)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Nov 03, 2011 at 11:10:28 AM EST
    Plenty of them knew we hated them for dragging us across the planet to fight what they supported.  Pretty sure those bullets whizzing around weren't peace offerings; pretty blatant sign of hate.  And if you group the Catholic Church into Italians, pretty sure there is still a hatred for their assistance in helping many escape justice.

    With the world gone global, news is traveling a little faster and with greater detail.  What you and I know about world events is something even the news stations didn't know back then.  Complete with audio/video in our minds minutes after they occur.  How many times do you watch the world news and already know their main story in more detail then they do, nearly every night.

    I will agree about helping people, but that in my mind isn't putting our noses in it.  That's helping people for the sake of helping people, not because Corporate America discovers oil, or rubies, or cheap labor.

    But that's exactly what we don't do, Africa will never be a concern of ousr until Corporate Overlords decide there something there they want.

    We aren't even subtle about it, you got oil, we will be in your business under the guise of some sort noble purpose.

    Parent

    Predisposed I suppose. (none / 0) (#1)
    by BobTinKY on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 07:27:35 AM EST
    With all the actual crimes being committed and going without investigation/punishment, oh Wall Street comes to mind, you'd think the authorities wouldn't have to create crimes to fight.

    But I guess they are easier.  Add forfeiture laws to the mix and it becomes great sport.

    Pretty Cheap Trick Covered This One (none / 0) (#9)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 01:42:04 PM EST
    Dream Police

    I try to sleep, they're wide awake, they won't let me alone
    They don't get paid to take vacations or let me alone
    They spy on me, I try to hide, they won't let me alone
    They persecute me, they're the judge and jury all in one
    I always thought (none / 0) (#10)
    by jbindc on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 01:43:44 PM EST
    That was about a paranoid person with mental health issues.

    Parent
    or a Glenn Beck fan (none / 0) (#11)
    by BobTinKY on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 03:09:04 PM EST


    Parent
    And If My Thought-Dreams Could Be Seen (none / 0) (#12)
    by john horse on Wed Nov 02, 2011 at 09:22:04 PM EST
    re:Punish people for their desires? Wow. I guess punishment for thoughts is coming next.

    Or as Bob Dylan once wrote:
    And if my thought-dreams could be seen.
    They'd probably put my head in a guillotine.

    11th Circuit Upholds Convictions in Liberty City "Sears Tower" Terror Sting | 13 comments (13 topical)

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