'We are not afraid,' U.S. judge tells shoe bomber

Toronto Star - ASSOCIATED PRESS, REUTERS ^ | 01-31-03

[veronica]

Richard Reid, the Al Qaeda follower who tried to blow up a transatlantic jetliner with explosives hidden in his shoes, was sentenced to life in prison yesterday by a judge who warned him: "We are not afraid ... we are Americans."

The 29-year-old British citizen cried, "You will be judged by Allah!" before being dragged from the courtroom in handcuffs.

Minutes before sentencing, Reid told the court he was unapologetic for his actions because he was "at war" with the United States.

U.S. District Judge William Young pointed to the American flag behind him and said: "You see that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is long forgotten."

Reid, who converted to Islam eight years ago, pleaded guilty in October to trying to blow up American Airlines Flight 63 on Dec. 22, 2001 as it flew to Miami from Paris.

He told the judge: "Your government has sponsored the torture of Muslims in Iraq, and Turkey, and Jordan and Syria with their money and weapons."

Young would have none of it.

"We are not afraid of any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid," the judge said. "We are Americans. We have been through the fire before.

"You are not an enemy combatant — you are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war — you are a terrorist. To call you a soldier gives you far too much stature. You are a terrorist and we do not negotiate with terrorists. "We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice."

Prosecutors said Reid had enough plastic explosives in his shoes to blow a hole in the fuselage and kill all 197 people aboard. As Reid tried furiously to light a match to his shoes, passengers and crew members overpowered him and used seat belts and headphone cords to strap him to his seat.

Two doctors aboard the flight injected him with sedatives and the jet was diverted to Boston under escort from fighter jets.

Prosecutor Gerard Leone told the judge that in Reid's mind "the religion of Islam justifies the killing of innocent civilians."

Defence lawyers said Reid credits his religion with saving him from a life of drug use and despair. They described a troubled childhood and young adulthood, when Reid was plagued by poverty, racism and crime.

As Reid sought to justify his actions, several crew members who were on the flight looked stunned, glancing at each other in the courtroom and shaking their heads. One woman wept.

One of the flight attendants, Carole Nelson, pleaded with the judge yesterday for a life sentence. "I believe that Richard Reid was on a mission of evil, a mission of destruction and a mission of murder," she said.

Reid pleaded guilty to eight charges, including attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. In October, he told the court: "I pledge to Osama bin Laden."

As well as the life sentence he was fined $2 million.

The sentencing hearing took place under tight security. U.S. Coast Guard vessels patrolled the waters abutting Boston's federal courthouse, while armed federal agents kept watch around the building.

[ChadGore]

This story got good play on the front page of USA Today. The judge is Reagan apointee

[BOBTHENAILER]

To call you a soldier gives you far too much stature. You are a terrorist and we do not negotiate with terrorists. "We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice."

I get the feeling this Judge would have ended the above statement with a word rhyming with otherducker, if decorum would have allowed it. Forceful rebuke to Reid the puke.

I'm sure he would not be a Clinton appointee.

[oyez]

Tell him ,"Welcome to Shanksville. You never know whose's waiting for you."

[sr4402]

U.S. District Judge William Young pointed to the American flag behind him and said: "You see that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is long forgotten

Clinton would never have appointed a judge like that. One like on the 9th Circuit of appeals (no pledge of alegiance) was more his speed.

Go Bush! Give us more judges like this one! Perambulate the Democrats!

[Copperhead61]

I'm sure the general population of the prison will welcome him with open arms....along with shives, razors, rubber hoses, etc. He should last about a week if he's lucky

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I worry that our prisons have become teaching centers for the kind of Islam that infected Reid's brain. Perhaps he get to serve his time in a supermax unit for the first 20 years or so.

[HardStarboard]

... No body with any sense believes that there are 70 virgins who deserve eternity with a terrorist anyway. ,,,

Give him a chance to find out - Richard Reid should have a chance to think about a lot of things while decending from 12,000' after being pushed out of a U.S. Air Force plane over Taliban country.

[Blood of Tyrants]

If I had been aboard that flight, he wouldn't have been in nearly so good shape when he got off.

[fightinJAG]

Thank you, Judge, for your words of courage and defiance.

Did you freepers see the simulation of what would have happened to the aircraft if Reid had succeeded in getting his shoe lighted? Blasted to smithereens.

I think they had to go with the life sentence in order to get this creep to plead guilty. If he hadn't pled guilty, it would have been pretty hard to prove his intent and the trial would have dragged on forever---which is a security risk in and of itself for all the people involved.

I think the prosecutor, Michael Sullivan, showed a lot of "you-can-kiss-my-royal-Irish" behind by going on television and making a statement about the conviction.

You know, the AQ would love to hit these people with ricin and make it a pattern of murdering anyone who "messes" with them.

[DoctorMichael]

.......general population of the prison will welcome him with open arms....along with shives, razors, rubber hoses, etc........

See Post #26:
........Perhaps he get to serve his time in a supermax unit for the first 20 years or so............

To All: Anybody out there with some experience here in sentencing procedures???????????????????????

What kind of a facility will this little scumbag be placed in??????????????????????????????

[John123]

Good judge, perfect sentence and goodbye Mr. Terrorist, forever.

I have changed my opinion of which penalty is harsher, Life or death. I definitely think life imprisionment without chance of parole is much harder than the death penalty. Reid wasn't afraid to die. Also, it will take much longer for Reid to become a martyr to the Al-Qaeda's causes. By then, Reid and religious terrorism will be long forgotten like the judge said.

[oyez]

. Reid wasn't afraid to die

Some think that is a condition of bravery, but isreally a contition of (1) Stupidity and (2) The lower value of human life as appreciated by the Islamofascists.

[John123]

Don't forget the 72 virgins. :)

[Travis McGee]

Defence lawyers said Reid credits his religion with saving him from a life of drug use and despair.

Look at the positive side: Mohammed saved him from his problems, and led him to attempt to kill 197 infidels!

[Travis McGee]

Correct, as long as Reid is not given all the damn muslim protocal clap trap in prison, where he may be considered a hero and lead readings in the koran etc, bringing fresh converts to the insane murder cult, just as he was recruited in prison.

He needs to be bricked into a cell with no rug and no koran, on an all pork diet.

[blackie]

Big Judge William Young ... Bump!

Mr. Reid should have a pound of C-4 strapped to the bottom of each foot the C-4 should detonated in safe place; sending Mr. Reid to the place he deserves!

Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!

[Green Kayak]

"...stacking and unstacking rocks..."

Have you SEEN the expression on that guy's face...I don't think it'd faze him. No, religious terrorism rates religious punishment - lets make him listen to mt uncle Carl's 40 minute Thanksgiving dinner blessing over and over again.

[aught-6]

Richard Reid should have a chance to think about a lot of things while decending from 12,000' after being pushed out of a U.S. Air Force plane

Sounds like the punishment that fits the crime, to me.

[Newbomb Turk]

Why don't we just take him outside and put his shoes back on and fire em up.

[Dionysius]

I bet he could satisfy the $2 mil fine with an endorsement deal from Nike. They took on Dennis Rodman, didn't they?