Good article by Paul Wechter at Sphere on the circus unfolding in the New York courtroom where the Aafia Siddiqui trial is underway:
"For a preview of the some of the antics that may be on display when Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four others are tried in New York federal court, it's instructive to look at the unfolding trial of another accused terrorist. Aafia Siddiqui was tossed from her own trial Tuesday by Manhattan Federal Court Judge Richard Berman after she ranted about her innocence during witness testimony, the New York Daily News reported. "
"Siddiqui, dubbed 'Lady al-Qaida' by the tabloids, is charged with attempted murder after being accused of grabbing an unattended rifle at an Afghan police station and opening fire on U.S. personnel. When she was arrested, she was carrying an alleged list of potential terror targets, including the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. But as Capt. Robert Snyder testified about the shooting incident, Siddiqui interrupted.... The outburst prompted her removal from the court; it was the trial's opening day. "
"It also wasn't the first volatile behavior by the defendant. On Jan. 11, Siddiqui said she wanted her defense team fired. A few days later, she demanded, in vain, that Jews be excluded from her jury pool. Such disruptions from a suspected terrorist unfamiliar with the U.S. judicial system aren't surprising, except she doesn't fit that profile. The Pakistani-born Siddiqui received some of the finest education America has to offer, receiving an undergraduate degree from MIT and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from Brandeis University."
"Except that she doesn't fit the profile"??!?! This is the woman who signed her e-mails with a quotation from the Koran warning believers (Muslims) from taking Jews and Christians as friends. How many times do journalists have to report about Islamic terrorists with master's degrees, medical degrees and PhD before they get it? In fact, being highly educated and educated in Western universities - like the 911 leaders and the Christmas undies bomber - exactly fits the profile. Who better than Western-educated terrorists would know how to take advantage of our court system? ,
The following day, Siddiqui promised to behave in court. Siddiqui is charged with attempted murder, this case is definitely not about Siddiqu's numerous ties to terrorism. From National Review Online:
"Siddiqui is an MIT- and Brandeis-educated Pakistani native accused of conducting financial transactions with al-Qaeda (a Suspicious Activity Report was filed several years ago), conspiring with al-Qaeda, and actually shooting at an FBI agent (and soldiers) overseas in a theater of military operations. Although prosecutors have made clear that the charges against her will not even mention any affiliation with al-Qaeda — she will simply be charged with attempted murder, assault, and other criminal violations — when the accused was captured, her handbag contained various bomb-making guides, as well as notes about a mass-casualty attack on various NYC landmarks. And she has been long suspected of maintaining high-level al-Qaeda connections."
There's a NY Times article here and Boston Globe coverage here.
This picture was used by the government during the jury trial. Quite a different visage than her earlier years at MIT and Brandeis.
Her lawyers are complaining because "spectators at her trial have to show identification and sign in." That's SOP at the Moakley Court House in Boston, what's the big deal? "Her defense team said Thursday the precautions are depriving her of a fair trial." Oh stop! As the Jawa Report writes, "Suck it up....would be threats from supporters of Siddiqui are real."
Cindy Sheehan is attending the trial. She must miss being in the media limelight. Luckily for Cindy, there's no shortage of anti-American causes to embrace.
Stay tuned for updates on the trial. Somehow, I don't think this trial will answer the questions of where Aafia Siddiqui really was between 2003 and 2008, the "missing years." Previous blogposts on Siddiqui here.
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