Justice is most often elusive today. The U.S. criminal justice system has never been perfect, though prior to the enactment of the USA Patriot Act on October 26, 2001, it was one of the better systems in the world. At least one could go through life with the illusion that it ranked right up there with the best before that date, whether it was true or not. Today our justice system falls in rank to one of the worst in the Western world.
The Bush administration brought us deserved disdain from around the world. This outspoken contempt didn't last long though, and they all quickly backed-off. After all, the potential financial sanctions that the U.S. could dish out serve a purpose. Bush told the world: "Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists." The rest of the world got the message. Remember when we had dolts running around boycotting France? As if the French people care about our "french fries"! What they did care about was the boycotting of French wines and France. Yes, it all served its purpose with the followers and worst idiots at the front of the line.
I am not a religious person, but I am spiritual and I do believe it reincarnation. I believe that organized religion serves to divide humanity. Throughout history one organized religion or another has been targeted. Muslims are the target du jour at this point in history; in this decade and this will clearly continue for at least the next decade. I have often not understood why more Muslims do not speak out against the targeting of their own and of the invasion and occupation of nation-states dominated by those of the Islamic faith. Indeed many do, but obviously not enough or the target practice would have already been discontinued.
You must stand-up to the bully, or the bully will always win. Attempting to placate the bully will never help. This is something that I learned from the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI). The MBI bullied every adult business (gambling, slots, bingo, escort services, massage parlors, adult clubs, rave clubs etc...) in the metro Orlando area by threatening everyone, from the owners to the workers, with racketeering charges and decades in prison. This agency tossed around the word "racketeering" as if they were tossing a salad. The worst part was that they followed-up on all of this and these were not mere threats. Still, all crumbled in their hands like croutons in that salad.
Today this is transpiring in the War on Terror. One person in this decade that has fought the bully at each attack is Dr. Sami Al-Arian. A federal jury acquitted Al-Arian on some counts and deadlocked on all other counts. The jury did not convict on any count. He has been a political prisoner – yes, we have this in the U.S. too – since 2003 and under house arrest since September of 2008. There are many others that fought for their rights in this War on Terror, but most tumble in the end through no fault of their own.
Several other cases stand out in the war, mainly because few victim-defendants take it to trial and are found not guilty by a jury. Most are charged with "material support to terrorism" under the USA Patriot Act. When the U.S. government loses – watch out – this is the worst of the sore losers that you will ever encounter in life. The DOJ takes the statement "payback is hell" to new extremes in the War on Terror.
Cases that stand out in the crowd:
Youssef Megahed – Acquitted by a federal jury in Tampa in April of 2009. Retribution was quick and ICE arrested Mr. Megahed, with the goal of deporting him, several days after his acquittal. Several jurors on the federal jury wrote statements protesting his re-arrest by ICE. An immigration judge tossed out the case and released him in August 2009. His co-defendant pled guilty in the federal case. Megahed fought the great fight, and won.
Lyglenson Lemorin – One of the "Miami 7 - Sears Tower plot" that was actually engineered by the FBI and an informant. The entire case was a farce. The government should be ashamed – very ashamed. The federal jury in Miami acquitted Lemorin and deadlocked on his co-defendants in December of 2007. Lemorin was immediately arrested by ICE, but has not been as lucky as Megahed. I know that he was not released by the immigration judge; however, I cannot find any further information. Most likely he is in a secret ICE camp.
Naudimar Herrera – One of the remaining "Miami 6 - Sears Tower plot" defendants. Later they became known as the "Liberty City Six". He was acquitted by the jury in May 2009 on the government's third try! Trial number three worked for Herrera; however, the jury convicted his five co-defendants. Mr. Herrera endured 3 federal trials, two of which ended in a deadlock, and was acquitted. He was not attacked by the government after it was all over, and he spends much of his time attempting to help his former co-defendants. This is one man that I'd like to meet…
Muhammad Salah and Abdelhaleem Ashqar – Both were acquitted by a federal jury in Chicago in February of 2007 on a racketeering charge; however, were convicted on an obstruction of justice charge. They were accused of being a part of a 15-year long conspiracy to finance Hamas. Both were college professors at one time.
Sami Omar Al-Hussayen – A federal jury in Idaho acquitted this Saudi graduate computer science student and webmaster on all counts in June 2004. This case was an inspiration and an early defeat of the USA Patriot Act. This was truly the test case and the trial took place while Bush was still popular with much of the U.S. population. They lost, Al-Hussayen won, and justice prevailed! When it was all over he was deported, but I'd imagine that this was a non-issue to him at that point.
I am sure that there are cases in the U.S. courts resulting in acquittals that I am unaware of, though this list is of cases that I saw in the news as they transpired and applauded the defendants for their strength in fighting the unjust prosecutions. There is a lengthy list of cases from other countries that have resulted in acquittals. Most convictions in the War on Terror cases are prosecuted with the flimsiest evidence imaginable and most defendants plead guilty out of fear more than anything else. When you think about it the War on Drugs is similar when the "conspiracy" charge is utilized in prosecution.
More on the "conspiracy" charge in the near future.
Once in a while justice does prevail in the United States.
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