Monday, March 27, 2006

"... and fly it into the White House."

Zacarias Moussaoui testified in federal court today that he and Richard Reid, the shoe bomber, were to hijack the fifth airplane on September 11, 2001 and fly it into the White House.

When asked by the prosecution if his refusal to tell the truth after his arrest reflected his refusal to give up his jihadist dream, Moussaoui said:

"You're not dead until you're dead."

I wonder if he thinks this testimony will help him to escape the death penalty?

4 comments:

cf said...

I'm just trying to figure out how this is the West's fault? And whether the EUros distaste for our cowboy insistence on the death penalty will--after the Spanish and British bombings--cause enormous street protests.

brylun said...

Andrew Cohen of CBS News is already trying to spin the Moussaoui testimony against the death penalty.

Some examples:

"the guy the feds have chosen to take the fall for the attacks"

"whether this is just another attempt to aggrandize his own stature in the antisocial registry of terrorists"

"which terrorists will jurors believe? The one in front of them in court who says he was part of the plot? Or the terrorist leaders captured abroad, the true masterminds of 9-11, who say that he was not?"

"whether Moussaoui isn't just a bit too eager to seal his own doom."

"recommending a death sentence for Moussaoui will be a gift to him rather than a punishment."

"Moussaoui's latest confessions, alone, are still not enough by law to make him eligible for the death penalty."

Where did CBS find this guy, Andrew Cohen?

Eric said...

I'm wondering if he isn't just making stuff up at this point. I always thought the guy was insane, not that I think that is an excuse, really. I just don't think the courts are going to get to the bottom of this.

Syl said...

"Moussaoui's latest confessions, alone, are still not enough by law to make him eligible for the death penalty."

Yeah, where did this guy come from. Moussaoui knew about the 9/11 attacks ahead of time but lied to the FBI. That's enough for the chair.

And that's the crux of the death penalty issue.

As for whether he was to be the 10th hijacker or part of a plot to occur later. who the hell cares WHICH plot.

Sheesh.