Trial set to begin for alleged members of 'jihad network'

dailypress.com ^ | 02/08/04 | MATTHEW BARAKAT

[Djarum]

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Four men who are to go on trial Monday were members of a dangerous Muslim terror cell that schemed to support the Taliban and fight the United States, the government charges.

Defense lawyers paint a different picture, saying overzealous prosecutors have turned legal activities, like playing paintball and buying weapons, into a sinister plot, and are inferring anti-American sentiments where none exist.

It will be up to U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema to decide the men's guilt or innocence: all four defendants and the prosecution have waived their right to a jury trial.

The four men were charged in June with conspiracy, firearms charges and other crimes as part of what U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty called a "Virginia jihad network."

Six others charged who were also indicted have pleaded guilty to various charges and some have been sentenced to more than 10 years in prison.

[blueyes]

Remember Wen Ho Lee, and David Hudak. The Feds need to stop pulling boner investigations. Inference is never as good as several star witnesses.