German court acquits 9/11 terror suspect

AP | 2/05/04

[kattracks]

The Associated Press 2/5/2004, 5:51 a.m. ET

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — A Hamburg court on Thursday acquitted a Moroccan man accused of helping the Sept. 11 hijackers after a 5 1/2-month trial that was only the second anywhere of a suspect in the attacks.

Abdelghani Mzoudi, 31, had no visible reaction as presiding Judge Klaus Ruehle read the verdict to the court, keeping his arms folded and looking down toward the floor.

Prosecutors had sought the maximum 15 years in prison on more than 3,000 counts of accessory to murder and membership in a terrorist organization. Last February, similar evidence secured the maximum sentence against Mzoudi's friend Mounir el Motassadeq — the world's first Sept. 11 conviction.

Federal prosecutors alleged Mzoudi provided logistical support to the Hamburg cell under lead hijacker Mohamed Atta, helping with financial transactions and arranging housing for members to evade authorities' attention. Mzoudi spent time at a terrorist camp in Afghanistan in 2000.

Mzoudi's attorneys denied the charges, saying that while their client was friends with many of the Sept. 11 principals, he knew nothing in advance of the plot to attack the United States.

The acquittal on all counts came after the court rejected a last-minute motion from an attorney representing relatives of American victims of the attacks.

The attorney, Andreas Schulz, said his clients had access to "new information" from the U.S. Department of Justice but that he was "not authorized" to tell the court what it was.

[Prodigal Son]

LOL, Blue Lancer. You don't have the conviction to answer the questions which your own comments raise.

Why not?

Why are you afraid to come out and say what you mean?

[Prodigal Son]

Should I just click my heels, salute, and answer, "Jawohl, mein Fuehrer"?

LOL, I would think you would be comfortable with that:

George Bush commands and we obey

That's not on my member page guy.

[Michael81Dus]

No, BlueLancer has no point on that! I have been on the streets during the election campaign. I have talked to hundreds of peoples to persuade them voting for the CDU! And noone said that they hate America, but I´ve often heard that they didn´t want war. There´s a huge difference between hating America and hating war - unless you, BlueLancer, are claiming that being pro America means being pro war; but then, I ask you, would you call all those American citizens who were against the Iraq war "anti-American"???

[Michael81Dus]

Thanks for your kind words. And thanks for your support. BlueLancer has refused several times to speak of his bad experiences in Germany. I don´t know them, and I doubt that he´ll come out with them. Maybe a girl refused him, lol.

[Michael81Dus]

Don´t exaggerate. If the US Department of Justice had provided what they know, the court could probably have sentenced the guy. I´m sure he´s guilty, and the prosecutors are too - that´s why they appeal the acquittal. And, even if the Federal Court House approves the ruling of the Hamburg Court, Mzoudi will end up in a US prison, because Germany is going to extradict the terrorist to Marocco, which will extradict him to the US.

[af_vet_1981]

"One of that group was acquitted by a German court. "

Now this is a relevent statement. So, you have evidence that the guy is guilty? I'm just curious.

The German court had evidence the terrorist is guilty. They chose to acquit him for political reasons.

The current generation in Europe who envy and despise us can cheer. In some countries they are the majority and in others the minority. Old Europe has the biggest concentration, namely France, Belgium, and Germany. Those Europeans who still have civilzation can mourn yet another miscarriage of justice by Europeans. Add another one to their long legacy ...

[af_vet_1981]

If the US Department of Justice had provided what they know, sensitive information would be leaked to the terrorists and the German courts would still find a reason to release another terrorist. I have no confidence in European justice, zero. Far too many Europeans despise and hate America. Normally we brush it off because we are better than that but when our citizens are being murdered by terrorists and Europeans take the other side we will remember.

[Prodigal Son]

The current generation in Europe who envy and despise us can cheer.

We're talking about Brits here or what?

What is your definition of European?

[Prodigal Son]

Those are basically my thoughts as well.

I have good experiences with German women. Maybe this accounts for my different views?

Comisch was eine Frau machen kann.

[af_vet_1981]

We're talking about Brits here or what? What is your definition of European?

Generally I mean "Old Europe" by Europeans. Sorry about that. I'm very tired of perps going free. We have internal problems in America with that. I would have thought Germany was a friend but I should know now they are an untrustworthy rival like France.

[longtermmemmory]

US citizens have a hard time in non-us courts across the world. There is an inate bias. It is much like an out of town lawyer getting "hometowned".

Happens all the time with divorce cases regarding child custody with children removed from the USA. (I believe denmark judges formally decared the USA an unfit place to rase a child compared to denmark.)

[Michael81Dus]

Dear Veteran!

I appreciate that you served the cause of freedom.
But how can you tell the world that Europeans cheered the attacks on US citizens?

How can you claim that the court acquits the guy for political reasons?

How can you claim that the court had evidence of Mzoudis guilt?

You and I, we suppose that the guy is guilty. And the prosecutors rate the evidence for sufficient. But our courts must not judge on political issues. Our constitution gives them independance. And even if they decided for political reasons, why would the Interior Minister of Hamburg announce that he´s going to extradite Mzoudi as soon as possible?

Why has the Federal Interior Minister refused to comment the sentence, and why have the prosecutors, who are dependent on the Ministers orders (different to judges), declared that they will appeal the acquittal at the Federal Court House??

You should answer these questions first before calling Germany an enemy of the United States!

Michael

[Prodigal Son]

Generally I mean "Old Europe" by Europeans.

While I understand Rummy's sentiments and reasons for saying what he did- Britain has one of the longest running histories in all of Europe. Britian is in no way- New Europe. (as opposed to old Europe).

I would have thought Germany was a friend but I should know now they are an untrustworthy rival like France.

So, you're saying, you have news that Germany is not helping in Afghanistan? Wow. I didn't realize that. It was my understanding- according to numerous news reports- that Germany had a contingent in Afghanistan as we speak. Maybe there is someone we could contact to get the word out that this is only fiction?

[af_vet_1981]

Britian is in no way- New Europe. (as opposed to old Europe).

No, Britain is Britain, our cousins as it were. We stood by them when the French surrendered and the Germans were about to invade. We stood by them when the whole world turned on them for defending the Falklands. They stood by us after we were despicably attacked by Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001 and we will not forget !

[af_vet_1981]

I'm saying Germany, as represented by the current government [not the previous one] is an unfaithful ally scouting the streets for other alliances meant to threaten the United States of America. They cannot be trusted.

[af_vet_1981]

Not all Germans are enemies of the United States. The current regime there is ... treacherous and not to be trusted. Many of the citizens hate us. Much of it is political. Some provide weapons and support to terrorists. To acquit a terrorist associated with 9/11 is the ultimate insult to this American. Nonetheless I do not blame all Germans, but Germany is responsible for the government they elect ! We learned that lesson from the Holocaust, no ?

[Prodigal Son]

So they aren't helping us in the War on Terror? That's what you're saying?

Hey, thanks for that info. I had no idea. Germany is basically against us is what you're saying and they're not helping us in the WoT? Thank God for Free Republic. If it weren't for freepers like you, I would be under the mistaken notion that Germany was in fact helping us in Afghanistan when they are actually not.

They have opposed us at ever turn. I'm informed now....

Cheers. Thanks for the real facts on this. I'm out of here for tonight. I must reconsider my political future....

If Dubya doesn't declare war on Germany tomorrow, I'm voting for Kerry or Buchanan or whoever is most likely to do so. The Germans are treacherous...

Cheers.

[Prodigal Son]

Nonetheless I do not blame all Germans, but Germany is responsible for the government they elect !

You're confusing me dude. So you're saying you're responsible for Bill Clinton? But he was like- really evil. Yet you elected him TWICE. I'm really messed up now. Is America an evil nation for electing Clinton or not? Is America an evil nation for making Michael Moore a number one best-seller or not? Is America an evil nation for voting Hillary as most admired female or not?

I'm so confused....

[Hun in the sun]

What a nonsense...

Please allow me to quote one of my recent posts:

"We`re backing you with troops in:

Kuwait
Afghanistan
Horn of Africa
Somalia
Kenia
Kosovo
...and some other regions

German AWACS controlled your airspace post 0911
German Troops guard your german bases, while your`s
are fighting in Iraq.

And last, but not least:

Allowing US troops to use their german bases,
hospitals, airports and our harbors for a war on
Iraq was, and is a direct violation of our
constitution. This constitution was written in
1948/49, under leadership of the US and Britain.
It simply allows no help/assistance for/on an unprovoked
war.

The Germans still accept this violation of a
constitution, which has been inspirated by your
constitution and the Magna Charta.

And?
We are called Weasels!

So, WHO taught us again to hate war?


Pls let me
verify my position by this other quote:

War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity, it destroys religion, it destroys states, it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it.
Martin Luther

Sometimes, beeing an OLD EUROPEAN means
to honor OLD Values

And sometimes I think that you guys just don`t
know what you`re talking about when talking
about W.A.R.


Sp, pls accept that this nation will always help
friends. But critizising a friend is friendship, too.
And wars lead to nothing but poverty."

Regards,
Hun

PS: great job, Prodigal Son!

[Michael81Dus]

Oh sure. The German government is an enemy of the United States. That´s why Schröder will be for lunch with President Bush in the White House this months. That´s why German soldiers are guarding all US military facilities in Germany since one year - and go on. That´s why the German government is fully cooperating with US authorities to held terrorists responsible for their crimes and get them before they can strike against us (and with "us", I include the US and Europe). Sir, you probably have formed your opinion about the Red-Green-government here during the Iraq conflict. I understand this, and I see that you don´t have positive feelings about the German governments attitude regarding this issue. But still, on all the other various fields, even the evil and bad Schröder-government cooperates with the US, and it serves our and your interests. I would be thankful if you reconsider your opinion, but this time not only think about Iraq, but also about other issues.

Oh, and I second that the previous government (Kohl) was much more pro-American than the current is.