Justice Dept defies trial order; Moussaoui could go free

From CNN

Well, the Attorney General seems to have answered the question, "What's more important: a conviction in this case or protecting intel?"

If revealing intel means exposing one or more individuals or a successful method of obtaining data, then yes....protecting it is more important than a conviction.

Worst-case scenario? We kick Moussaoui out of the United States, then watch him like a hawk wherever he goes. If he reconnects with Al Qaeda, then he essentially serves as a big red arrow pointing at the really bad guys. If he keeps a low profile fearing the CIA or Mossad or boogeyman, then he''s no longer a threat.

Though considering that he has openly confirmed his association with Al Qaeda, I highly doubt he''ll be walking free any time soon.

I think he should go free.

And he should be dropped off on a corner in Brooklyn at a predetemined and publicly announced time. If he makes it out then he''s earned his freedom.

Hey, even I have my moments of vendetta.

The question is: will they let him go free, or will they recategorize him as an ""enemy combatant"" and make him disappear forever?

They will recategorize him as an ""enemy combatant"" and try him in a military tribunal.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/...

They will never let him go and he will never be allowed access to other Al Qaeda members.

This person is not an American citizen and is an admitted member of a terrorist organization that ""declared war"" on the U.S. Why is he in a civilian court?

I thought Janet Reno was bad, but Ashcroft is truly an American idiot.
No wonder he lost to a dead guy. Moron.

I never caught the rationale for sticking him a civie court in the first place, given the fact that if you aren''t an American, you''re going to Gitmo for life.

"Rat Boy" wrote:

The question is: will they let him go free, or will they recategorize him as an ""enemy combatant"" and make him disappear forever?

And how is the second option bad?

Seriously though, if it were 1942 and this guy was a Japanese pilot who openly and energetically swore his undying allegence to the Emperor, would anybody have cared if he disappeared?

Sure, that''s kind of a barbaric approach to things when one looks at it from a late-90s, instant-gratification must-see-TV point of view (not that I''m implying that anybody here is doing so). On the other hand... from the holy-sh*t-these-guys-would-kill-millions-of-us-at-once-if-they-could, September 12th point of view it''s not.

"Elysium" wrote:

I think he should go free.

And he should be dropped off on a corner in Brooklyn at a predetemined and publicly announced time. If he makes it out then he''s earned his freedom.

Hey, even I have my moments of vendetta.

You know, if we filmed it, it might beat the ratings for big brother. Which, of course would be ironic...

I find it a very arousing idea, if somewhat in conflict with written rules on human rights

Agreed...although some could argue that in terms of Humanity, these bastards turned their membership cards back in long ago.