Moussaoui Sentenced

ZM was sentenced to life w/o parole, in deep max security. I'm mostly relieved.

I think sentencing him to death would have been a mistake, and an undeserved victory for a really awful prosecution. In general, I tend to side with the defense, and, as the system demands, expect the prosecution to make a strong case (LEGALLY) if they gain a conviction.

The prosecution in this case had a pretty weak case for the charges they proffered, argued it badly (and somewhat hysterically), and appeared to violate both the law and court decorum at virtually every turn. There were a few times I really thought the whole case would be tossed out. But that was probably not even a possibility, given the high profile and 'importance' of the case.

I won't even get into the ramifications of execution Moussaoui on the international legal scene (further isolating us uncivilized barbarians) or the terrorist community (driving further hordes of disenfranchised islamofascist youth in the arms of the 'terrahrists') Ultimately, the case had to be decided on it's merits (or lack of) and not how it would be perceived on the international stage. But, I think it's preferable that the verdict came down as it did. Moussaoui will die, most likely forgotten and unlamented in a hole somewhere in the Rockies, and draw only a few of the most intense jihadis into the movement in his wake. And most of those would probably have gravitated to the movement anyway.

Basically, a good verdict on many levels.

(Note: I'm opposed to the death penalty under any circumstances, so take the above with however many grains of salt that merits)

Josh comments on it quite cogently.