Free Republic

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) -- The Justice Department said it would be able to try accused Sept. 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui in a civilian court while protecting his rights and government secrets. The need to protect both Moussaoui's rights and sensitive national security information makes the case complex, but "should not breed skepticism about the propriety of prosecuting this case," the government told a federal judge Monday. The written pleading reaffirmed Attorney General John Ashcroft's objection to moving the case to a military tribunal, even though some Pentagon and intelligence officials reportedly would prefer that option. A tribunal could provide for...

September 11 trial near collapse From Roland Watson in Washington WASHINGTON'S hopes of convicting the only man charged with a role in the September 11 attacks in a public trial were close to collapse last night. The District Judge from Alexandria, Virginia, presiding over the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui said that she doubted the Bush Administration's ability to prosecute the case given the "shroud of secrecy" thrown over the details. Judge Leonie Brinkema said that she was disturbed that the Government had classified so many court papers and orders. She agreed with the defendant's scepticism that the case could proceed...

VMI Prayer Battle Could Define America’s Fighting Force Dave Eberhart, NewsMax.com Saturday, Nov. 23, 2002 Since January, when a judge ordered Virginia Military Institute to stop its traditional dinner prayers, Col. Ronald D. Ray, USMCR (Ret.) has been fighting to overturn the controversial ruling. If the battle is lost, he predicts an ACLU juggernaut that will strip God from the service academies and even from aircraft carriers, whose warriors will soar into harm’s way with a wing and not a prayer. “Dinnertime prayers have been said at the 162- year-old military academy since Thomas J. ‘Stonewall’ Jackson taught there,” Ray...