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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051228/pl_ … NlYwN0bWE-

The appeals court also rejected the government's request to set aside a September 9 ruling that allowed Padilla to be held as an "enemy combatant" without being charged. Wiping out that ruling would have made it virtually impossible for the Supreme Court to review the case.

So, the Appeals Court does not want to roll over for the Bush cabal.

Voodoo Chile (Sleight Return) -- Zombie Remix:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/ … harges.php

Trial of Jose Padilla, accused of aiding terrorists, set to begin
The Associated Press
Published: May 13, 2007

MIAMI: The trial of suspected al-Qaida operative Jose Padilla opened Monday with federal prosecutors arguing the U.S. citizen and two co-defendants provided money, recruits and military equipment to Islamic extremists involved in violence worldwide for nearly a decade.

"The defendants were members of a secret organization, a terrorism support cell, based right here in South Florida," Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Frazier told jurors in his opening statement. "The defendants took concrete steps to support and promote this violence."

Padilla, a former Chicago gang member and Muslim convert, has been in federal custody since his May 2002 arrest at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.

Defense attorneys argued that Padilla, 36, was a peaceful Islamic convert interesting in studying his religion overseas and co-defendants Adham Amin Hassoun and Kifah Wael Jayyousi, both 45, were simply assisting oppressed Muslims in war-torn regions.

Padilla met Hassoun at mosques in Broward County, Florida, where both men lived and Hassoun frequently gave fiery speeches about religion and politics. Frazier said Padilla agreed to be recruited by Hassoun as a prospective mujahedeen fighter to be trained by al-Qaida in Afghanistan.

"Jose Padilla was an al-Qaida terrorist trainee providing the ultimate form of material support — himself," Frazier said.

Padilla's attorneys accused the government of distorting the meaning of the Arabic words "jihad," or holy war, and "mujahedeen," or Muslim fighters.

"The government really is trying to put al-Qaida on trial in this case, and it doesn't belong in this courtroom," said Hassoun attorney Jeanne Baker. "There's a lot of rhetoric, but there's no evidence."

This AP reporter is Curt Anderson. He's a fortyish white, middle america type. Over 20 years for AP. Double digits on the legal beat. He took calls on CSPAN yesterday. He's fair and balanced.  And knows the details.

More newer info:
http://sdfla.blogspot.com/atom.xml

Round (week) one goes to...

... the prosecution or the defense?

You would expect that the first week of the Jose Padilla trial would be an overwhelming victory for the prosecution, but there has been a lot of debate about who has taken week one. The Chicago Tribune called the prosecutors "frustrated" with some of the inroads defense lawyers have made with their witnesses, most notably the training camp witness.

The Miami Herald today has two separate articles -- one by Jay Weaver saying: "Like savvy Hollywood directors, federal prosecutors opened the Jose Padilla terrorism trial in Miami with a grabber -- his alleged application to join al Qaeda."

The other by Ana Menedez, concluding: "Now the government must persuade jurors that the man who filled out his al Qaeda application as its No. 1 Slacker was really a dangerous terrorist. What emerged in week one was a slightly different picture: that of a former gang member adrift in the world. 'The Immigrant' admitted he hadn't worked in the military field and couldn't list any combat experience. From the application, he seems not so much a terrorist as the ultimate underachiever, the kind of guy who'd admit to carpentry skills, but would modestly leave blank the question asking him to list his 'intellectual abilities.' Maybe he just didn't want the job."

To get back to my theme for this trial -- This is why we need cameras in federal court. It's impossible to form your own opinion about what's really going on because we can't see it. We have to rely on newspapers which have all sorts of different opinions. Why no cameras?

And just for your enjoyment -- Slate now has this Padilla quiz.  Take it.
More compelling testimony in Padilla trial

Today, a member of the "Lackawanna Six'' terrorist group testified in general about al-Qaida training camps and how one could get admitted to such a camp. Prosecutors will argue that Jose Padilla followed those procedures. This witness, however, could not link Padilla to the camps.

From the AP: Prosecutors say Goba's testimony is critical because it describes for the jury what went on at the al-Farooq camp, which the government claims Padilla attended in summer 2000. It also links the defendants to the al-Qaida terrorist group, even if indirectly.``Is it possible to just show up at one of the camps?'' asked prosecutor Brian Frazier.``No,'' Goba replied.``You had someone to help you _ someone known and trusted by al-Qaida,'' Frazier continued.``Yes,'' Goba said.But Goba said under questioning by defense lawyers that his intent was only to prepare to defend Muslims in areas where they were oppressed and persecuted, not to commit murder or other crimes. He said he never became a member of al-Qaida.``Are you now, or have you ever been, a terrorist?'' asked Padilla attorney Michael Caruso.``No,'' Goba replied.

SDFLA blog if a gov't generated/funded via taxes or fees...look at what their internal polling is:

Who is the funniest judge (including magistrates) on the Southern District of Florida?
    Moreno
    Martinez
    Turnoff
    Brown
    O'Sullivan
    Ungaro
    Palermo
    Graham
 
Free polls from Pollhost.com
What is the biggest case ever in the Southern District of Florida?
    Bush v. Gore
    USA v. Noriega
    USA v. Magluta/Falcon
    The pending HMO litigation
    Yaweh
    The case not filed -- Iran/Contra
    The Black Tuna case
    Any of the various Cops cases
    USA v. Victor Posner (Edward Bennett Williams defends)
    Allapattah v. Exxon ($1 billion verdict goes to S.Ct.)

My Amazon preselect is all JFK conspiracy books. Obscure enough that only someone like me knows who these authors are; and their 'agenda'; if any...but there has to be, anymore.

Here's how Assistant Brian Frazier's boss handles the various venues:
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls/AboutUs.html
coming last:

Public Integrity & National Security Section

The Public Integrity and National Security Section investigates and prosecutes crimes relating to the safety and integrity of the public. From a security standpoint, all international and domestic terrorism related matters are handled in the section including material support and financing cases as well as matters involving the illegal export of military and regulated mixed use technology items. The section also works to enhance public integrity by investigating and prosecuting Federal, state and local officials for violations of federal statutes covering bribery, graft, conflict of interest, embezzlement, and extortion. Civil Rights statutes are also vigorously enforced by the section as well as other federal laws protecting the public from incidents of racial or other animus-based violence, involuntary servitude and other misconduct done under the color of law.

The Quiz:
http://www.slate.com/id/2166591/

I'm inclined to ask y'all create another thread. I sha'nt.

Johnny?

Zombies!  Run !

:: frantically pages General Stone ::