Posted on 11/28/2007 8:57:35 PM PST by STARWISE
A doctor convicted of conspiring to treat injured al-Qaida fighters was sentenced Wednesday to 25 years in prison, with the judge reasoning that a sentence to deter others was needed because terrorists cannot carry out their deadly aims without help.
U.S. District Judge Loretta A. Preska noted Dr. Rafiq Sabir, 53, showed no remorse after his May conviction for conspiring to provide material support to terrorists by agreeing to treat injured al-Qaida members so they could return to Iraq to battle Americans.
The judge said there was "no reason to believe that this defendant has abandoned any criminal intentions."
She said terrorism offenses were among the most serious crimes prosecuted and required stern punishments.
"If not for assistance to terrorists, then terrorist acts would not take place," she said.
Just before the announcement of the sentence in a crowded courtroom, Sabir, of Boca Raton, Fla., insisted he was "completely innocent."
He said a co-defendant, jazz musician and martial arts expert Tarik Shah, had duped him into taking an oath with an FBI agent who posed as an al-Qaida recruiter, never explaining that he was pledging loyalty to al-Qaida or its leader, Osama bin Laden.
"I'm an extremely gullible man," he said.
Sabir said he learned more about Shah at his trial than he had learned in the previous 20 years when they had become close friends.
He said he now realizes Shah tried to sell his services to al-Qaida.
"My intentions were entirely within the law," he said. "I had no idea I was being asked to be an al-Qaida member."
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.google.com ...
PING~!
I'm afraid this isn't the last time we're going to hear this particular defense.
this judge is impressive!
She was excellent. God bless her. Gullible, my foot.
Now his name is Mudd.
Yes and thank you for the ping, STARWISE.
Appointed by Bush 1 and, according to wiki, on Bush 2’s short list for Supremes.
What religious affiliation do these terrorists have, and why do the feds still allow their fellow believers to immigrate?
Harry Mudd???
Ooops sorry. Harcourt Fenton?
thanks for that info!
Bu..bu..but..he’s a Doctor, for the chilllllllllldren../barf at myself!!
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