Moussaoui: Life in Prison
It's a tough call (took jurors 41 hours, and they were not unanimous), but this seems to me the right decision.
Not because Moussaoui's alleged traumatic childhood and possible mental illness provided mitigating factors, as the defense claimed.
But because he wanted to be a martyr. Death would have given him too much notoriety.
And because he was no mastermind, and the extent to which he was a "conspirator" is not clear -- probably inflated by him. He would have been more a scapegoat for 9/11 than a punished perpetrator.
Let him be forgotten in prison.
I agree with you 100%.
Mark Daniels
Posted by: Mark Daniels | May 03, 2006 at 10:55 PM
In radical Islamic ideology, being captured by infidels and executed does not equal martyrdom. It equals humiliation. The ‘72 virgins fantasy is reserved for those who die ‘gloriously’ in battle.
So, with that strawman burned to the ground, hand me a baseball bat and I'll beat the guy to death myself.
Posted by: Robbie | May 04, 2006 at 10:37 AM
In radical Islamic ideology, what it being captured by infidels and imprisoned for life? Not an honor, I presume.
Posted by: amba | May 04, 2006 at 10:43 AM
It intuitively feels like the correct result. Anonymity instead of martyrdom.
Posted by: kreiz | May 04, 2006 at 11:23 AM
Ditto Kreiz
Posted by: GN | May 04, 2006 at 12:02 PM
Moussaoui whoui?
Posted by: meade | May 04, 2006 at 12:24 PM
Who's this guy, the Gary Gilmore of jihadis?
And I'll bet you that some prisoner wanting to make a name for himself picks up Robbie's baseball bat.
Posted by: Melinda | May 04, 2006 at 01:33 PM
And now the international progressives won't be able to beat us over the head for demanding HIS head.
Posted by: Sissy Willis | May 04, 2006 at 07:05 PM
Annie, thanks for your reasoned and temperate response (and your kind words over at DWM; that meant a lot to me).
I want to be tough on terrorism, and on terrorists; I don't want to share their black hearts.
There's no point in "winning" if that's the price.
Posted by: reader_iam | May 04, 2006 at 08:05 PM
Think he'll get a prayer rug? I hope the hell not.
Posted by: karen | May 04, 2006 at 10:11 PM