Why is a jury in the United States contemplating handing a death sentence to an individual (Moussaoui) for doing nothing? Is there a precedent here? I am absolutely dumbfounded......

The blame-game baby.

I don't think Charles Manson did anything either.

I believe the official reason is that he lied to the FBI about it before it happened, saying he didn't know anything about any Al-Qaeda plots.

Seems he 'fessed up to it during the trial, if you believe him. I have to say, his testimony reminded me a little of that guy, Colin something or other, who shot up a train in or around New York and then represented himself in court. Anyone remember that? He was some kind of wacko.

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Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...

Right -- the guy is clearly unhinged -- who knows what to believe. Regardless, I didn't know that either lying or failing to act was a capital offense. Does anyone here really believe that an admission from this nutcake before 9/11 would have prevented the tragedy? Personally, I find it extremely unlikely.

In my legal experience as a botanist, as I understand the charge, he knowingly concealed a conspiracy in which he was engaged, information about which would have foiled the events of 9/11, making him an equally culpable co-conspirator.

Charles Manson wasn't executed, so that may not be a perfect example.

I'm not sure whether I am sold on this theory of culpability, either. Something about it makes me uncomfortable. But then, I am not completely enamored of capital punishment, especially at the federal level.

As I've said elsewhere, I think a fitting punishment would be life without parole on a working pig farm. He can clean the sty. For life.

But that's just me.

Bot

I agree. It takes 'failure to assist' to new heights of culpability.

I think that the execution will be about the ploting of 911, even if the charges do not say it directly.

Based on the record, he could have shouted it from the rooftops and nothing would have come of it.

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-Marty

1986 300E 220,000 miles+ transmission impossible
(Now waiting under a bridge in order to become one)

Reading your M103 duty cycle:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831799-post13.html
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/831807-post14.html

IOW, he did nothing rather than something, since concealment in this case translates into a failure to speak or act.

I find that wildly assumptive, don't you?

The man will die and most will cheer. Details Shmetails.

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Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...

Yup.

Yep.

Hopefully the jury will be as uncomfortable with the whole thing as we appear to be.

(I admit that within me is the ability and desire to smash that motherf**ker's head with a hammer, but that's just me.)

Bot

Now why does that remind me of the Iraq invasion?

Yeah, as a human being he seems to be near the bottom of the pack. Can't remember who's idea the pig farm was, but that was a good one. I would add that if it were in a hot place, they should dump shells from a seafood processing plant there each day. Ahh...that fresh sea air.

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Ralph

1985 300D Turbo, CA model
248,650 miles and counting...

That guy couldn't mastermind a happy meal. You know the Fed's case is weak by all the theatrics they are using in the penalty phase. Do you really need to dress up 9/11. THEY FREAKING RAN JETS INTO THE BUILDINGS AND KILLED 3000 PEOPLE. Why do you need all the 911 tapes? The act wasn't horrible enough? The jury doesn't get it? The judge has already warned them and I think it might backfire on the Feds.