Jakarta Bomb Suspect Wanted to Kill Americans

MyWay ^ | Jan 26, 7:38 AM (ET) | Reuters

[Nachum]

JAKARTA (Reuters) - A young Islamic militant accused of involvement in last year's bombing of a U.S.-run hotel in Indonesia told a court Monday he had targeted Americans and regretted that all but one of those killed were his countrymen.
Prosecutors charged Mohamad Rais, 28, with helping to organize the Aug. 5 bombing of the JW Marriott hotel that killed 12 people, including a Dutch man, and wounded 150. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

"I'm remorseful because Muslims became victims. The ones who I targeted were Americans. Now I have to be accountable because I was indeed involved in the Marriott bombing," he told the court.

Rais, whose hearing began Monday, is only the second suspect to go on trial over the Jakarta attack in which militants detonated a bomb-laden car in front of the hotel lobby.

The prosecution also said Rais had been a messenger of al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden.

After a two-year training stint in Afghanistan, Rais returned home in 2001 with a message from bin Laden for the Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, who authorities say was leader of the Jemaah Islamiah group they blame for the Marriot blast.

"Bin Laden offered Abu Bakar Bashir to go to Afghanistan if it is believed the conditions in Indonesia are no longer feasible for Abu Bakar Bashir to stay," state prosecutor Andi Herman said.

The prosecutor said Rais delivered the message to Bashir on September 13, 2001.

The 65-year-old Bashir was arrested after bomb attacks on the Indonesian tourist island of Bali in October 2002 and sentenced to four years in prison last September for taking parts in acts of treason.

An appeals court later acquitted him of the treason charges and reduced his sentence to three years.

The judge adjourned the proceedings against Rais until February 4.

The trial of the first defendant in the Marriot bombing case began in November in Bengkulu on the island of Sumatra. The man, Sardono Siliwangi, is accused of storing the explosives used in the blast.

[Adrastus]

There's another case for smarter bombs. Ones that only seek out Americans. This mutt must have come from the most shllow end of the gene pool. A strong argument for stopping the Islamic custom of marrying your cousin.

[JETDRVR]

"Aug. 5 bombing of the JW Marriott hotel that killed 12 people, including a Dutch man, and wounded 150"


What I want to know is what Al Qeerda has against Marriotts?

[gridlock]

Wasn't the American Embassy in Nairobi adjacent to the Marriot?

[JETDRVR]

"Wasn't the American Embassy in Nairobi adjacent to the Marriot?"

Thats possable. I certainly mean no disrespect to the victims. As somebody who travels for a living , it certainly does not give you warm a fuzzy feelings about staying at any Marriot property.

[reed_inthe_wind]

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let thy glory be over all the earth!
[6] They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. [Selah]
[7] My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!

[Adrastus]

Good point. You may also ask the same question about Dutch men. These people need to either limit the collateral damage or get out of the bombing business.

To be honest about it, I like it better when the bomber scores an own goal. That I will always applaud.