Posted on 12/25/2006 8:10:38 AM PST by Kitten Festival
LA MESA - Osama Awadallah had never even had a parking ticket when he was detained by FBI agents in San Diego 10 days after hijacked jets destroyed the World Trade Center and struck the Pentagon.
One of hundreds of Muslim men picked up in a frenzied law enforcement dragnet that followed the attacks, Awadallah was a 21-year-old community college student from Jordan who had met two of the hijackers. He was whisked to New York to testify as a material witness before a grand jury investigating the terrorist plot.
He was never accused of any involvement in terrorism, but after testifying twice before the grand jury, he was charged with misleading the panel about how well he knew one of the hijackers, launching a five-year legal ordeal that ended with his acquittal by a New York federal jury just before Thanksgiving.
Now 26 and back in California, where he graduated with honors last spring from San Diego State, Awadallah is looking for a computer technician job, studying for graduate school entrance exams and moving ahead with long-held plans to apply for U.S. citizenship.
"I want to move on from this, find my lucky girl and just be like every other American," he said in an interview at a Denny's restaurant in suburban San Diego, just a half-mile from the apartment where he was arrested. He dressed casually and sported a chicly close-cropped beard, a large digital wristwatch and wire-rim glasses.
An observant Muslim, he politely declined to shake hands with a female reporter. He began the interview with brusque questions about motives for talking to him but quickly relaxed in conversation.
"I watch what I say, who I'm talking to these days," he apologized with a ready grin. "The real effect is in trusting people."
Born in Caracas, Venezuela...
I second it. Throw him out.
"One of hundreds of Muslim men picked up in a frenzied law enforcement dragnet....."
Another victim of the evil Americans, trod upon, clearly innocent except in America. Obviously racism and Islamophobia were the only reason he and the others were arrested after 9/11. Now that "lucky girl" can soon have this fine human speciman for a husband, and get ready for the beatings, abuse and slave-like lifestyle this fine man will bring her.
Yeah, would you like this guy as your fellow citizen? I think he ought to be shipped back to the third world where he's so clearly more comfortable. Everything he said to the AP was a deception, his snide 'that lucky girl' remark - Arabs don't talk like that' - 1950s Americans do - makes me think he's a flaming liar. I don't want this guy walking around with a US passport, I want him out of this country.
Since America has been so hostile an environment for him, Osama Awadallah could just go back to Jordan, and put his talents for intrigue and dissembling to work there. I understand these traits are highly prized in Muslim countries.
I think this is one Mohameddan we can do without.
Someone needs to tell him that to be like "every other American," he shouldn't have a problem shaking a woman's hand.
Apparently he doesn't read the same Koran and Hadiths I do.
I must have gotten special editions just like Mohammed Atta , Zarqawi and Bin Laden have. There is nothing that I have read in the Koran and Hadiths that would encourage a Muslim to be just like every other stinking degenerate American Infidel.
I think he is a liar. But that (taqiyya), is permissible when dealing with us Infidels. - tom
Just a little Christmas note to all foreigners who have a problem with living in my country. If you can't take the heat, go the hell home!
Yet another example of just how stupid, bigoted, and unjust the Bush Administration is.
They should have detained all jet-powered aircraft.
Interesting. Thanks for posting. More background information and a picture here...
http://www.10news.com/news/1037963/detail.html
You guys are way too lenient.
ML/NJ
"If all about you, others are losing their heads..." you're probably in a muslim country.
This clown should consider himself lucky that he WASN'T in a muslim country.
this is just another moderate muzzie.....
send him to jordan and send all his brethren with him...
after all, they probably all have a lapse of memory regarding their friendship with the hijackers and are all just confused followers of that religion of peace....
you know the religion that rejoiced and danced in the street on 9/11....
Another example of just how much our elites hate our guts.
I would never, ever trust this man.
It seems like we have taken liberalism way too far. So far, in fact that we cannot descriminate between those who would make good citizens and those who would worship Bin Laden and do us grave harm. This man is a potential sleeper.
It seems like we have taken liberalism way too far. So far, in fact that we cannot descriminate between those who would make good citizens and those who would worship Bin Laden and do us grave harm. This man is a potential sleeper.
Better!
ML/NJ
Actually no problem, just wouldn't.
It's insane that he got off. Saying he "forgot" something he had been questioned about intensely for months has got to be the lamest excuse I've ever heard - well, having a jury, or at least one member of it, believe it is probably even lamer. I wonder about the background of the juror who let him off.
This guy is clearly "dirty." Why else would he lie about knowing the terrorist? This case shows the folly of treating terror cases in the the normal civil courts. One liberal or naive juror and a terrorist or terrorist enabler walks. Let's hope he's watched very carefully from here on out. He should really be deported.
In addition to knowing two of the hijackers in the Pentagon flight, I was drawn the sub-head of the article:
Videotapes Of Martyrs Also Found In Suspect's Car
This isn't mention in his aquital...why is this overlooked. Says to me he has strong terrorist sympathies; maybe "wannabe"!
Gee, what a coincidence!! A lot of people murdered by muslims are seeking to reclaim THEIR lives, too!!!
He's just resuming Sleeper status.
"An observant Muslim, he politely declined to shake hands with a female reporter"
Oh, he was polite, huh? Typical muslim ass-licking comment from the media.
This guy has no reason to complain, but they know the PC Police will be on their side. That is the scary part.
1) he knew 2 of the highjackers
2) sorry - I'm profiling, but he's Muslim
3) he had pictures of Bin Laden and videos of martyrs?
4) he lied several times.
all that said, if he'd told the truth, I'm guessing he's freed.
all this about not shaking hands with a female, etc. disturbs me too. I agree with Wafa Sultan; there is No Clash of Civilizations but a Clash between the Mentality of the Middle Ages and That of the 21st Century.
would that we could end the isolation of these people where all they are exposed to is hate.
Why are muslims so afraid of women? They can't touch them, see them, tolerate them in public or in political debate...I don't get it. And, I really don't get why a woman would want to become a muslim.
This is not racial profiling. What were the race of the men who flew planes into the WTC, Pentagon and Pennsylvania? They sure as hell were not Chinese...
Most people without knowing it profile themselves.
I think we should spread rumors he's with the CIA, put him in the Muslims' den and then let whatever happens, happen.
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