SAVING MOUSSAOUI FROM DEATH HARD: ATTORNEY

RICHMOND, Virginia July 28, 2005 (AFP) - Saving Frenchman Zacarias Moussaoui from the death penalty after he confessed to plotting the September 11 attacks will be a tough sell, his attorney [Gerry Zerkin] said Thursday.

Moussaoui pleaded guilty on six charges [the entire indictment], four of which could bring the death penalty. ... The 36-year-old Frenchman has said bin Laden had chosen him to fly a jet into the White House.

Government lawyers will have the upper hand "when they show people (jumping) out of the windows of the World Trade Center buildings," [Mr. Zerkin] said.

Given all that Mr. Zerkin thinks there's "a chance" something less than the death penalty can be wheedled from the court. Yes. Well, we can see how that will be a little tricky.

Of course, M. Moussaoui has the whole of France pulling for him. Earlier this year then-French Justice Minister Dominique Perben recalled a deal struck with the United States not to seek the death penalty against Moussaoui:

"When France gave elements of informations about Mister Moussaoui to the American justice, I obtained a written engagement of the United States not to use these elements to require or execute the death penalty".

French solicitude notwithstanding, our guess is that the United States managed its prosecution with the evidence it had in hand and M. Moussaoui will soon be joining his jihadi buddies. Thanks, France.

PFFT (What is this?): Justice delayed 5 | Afterlife delayed 5

Bien entendu , Damian chooses out of context sensationalism over facts and fails to mention that the case against Moussaoui has been built with full assistance of French intelligence, and that even Germany has refused to release evidence against him should he get the death penalty. Frankly, no one cares about Moussaoui's fate, but go ahead and fry him if that's going to make you feel better (what's wrong with putting him in jail and throwing away the key?). Meanwhile, radical Imams in France are being closely watched and even kicked out of the country.

Death penalty ? Good idea, Moussaoui will be a martyr and it will encourage jihadist to attack the US ?
I bet that's what you want Damian ?

M. Zmx,

Your claim ignores the very facts reported here. The assistance of French intelligence is not "full" but "circumscribed", otherwise there would be no French qualifications about how and what can be used. As for Germany, well, our project here is the critique of France, not her patsies. Besides any evidence against M. Moussaoui after sentencing is useless. The Fifth Amendment to the the U.S. Constitution prohibits double jeopardy: ...nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb..... If it will make you happy -- Thanks, Germany!

One thing is certain neither France nor Germany hold any exculpatory evidence.

As for your proposition to incarcerate M. Moussaoui and throw away the key, well, how about France footing the bill and taking the flak when M. Moussaoui shows up on some terrorist's list of non-negotiable demands.

Mr. Bored,

We see you have found your way to Pave from E-Nough! After considering your thoughtful analysis, yes, we can see the danger you describe. Best not kill any of these Islamofascists, no, not a one. Won't that frustrate their recruitment! Brilliant idea! Obviously being bored leaves you plenty of time for the deep think on these sorts of issues.

You see how wrong your bet was.

Regards all,
DGB

Send him to Riker's Island. For those who don't know, this is a prison in NY. He'll make lot's of friends there.

Yes Damian, you've seen what I meant through my "thoughtful analysis"...
Moreover being bored leaves me plenty of time to see how the world is being ruled and how human beings thinks, and a lots of things that you cannot understand because you're only able to see the wrong side of things...
Instead of thinking of how we could go forward you spread your time boring everybody about uninteresting issues, that's where we are different : you and me : I spend time understanding how to find solutions to world's problem, and you waste time trying to find the best way to show how frenchmen are fools (useless because there's not nation better than an other one).

Sorry but it doesn't show at all that you're a wise man...

Mr. Bored,

Thank you for your bored self-important self-aggrandizing twaddle. It obviously is not easy being you.

DGB