|
American Pleads Guilty to Aiding Taliban
An American accused of backing al-Qaida said he accepted responsibility for his actions as he pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide cash, computers and fighters to the Taliban. James Ujaama, 37, pleaded guilty to a single felony count in an appearance before U.S. District Judge Barbara Rothstein, said John Hartingh, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office. Other charges were dropped, including one accusing Ujaama of plotting to set up a terrorist camp in Oregon. Under the plea bargain, Ujaama has agreed to help federal prosecutors in their investigation of radical London cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri, according to a government official. The official said this could lead to an indictment against the cleric, who is considered a top terrorist recruiter in Europe and who has praised bin Laden and the Sept. 11 attacks.Little fish used to nail bigger fish The government has frozen al-Masri's funds for his alleged membership in the Islamic Army of Aden, the organization that claimed responsibility for the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen in October 2000. Prosecutors said that Ujaama converted to Islam and traveled to London in 1997, becoming a close associate of al-Masri. They say al-Masri provided Ujaama with a letter of introduction that enabled him to attend a terrorist camp in Afghanistan. Didn't everyone go to terror camps in Afghanistan? Ujaama, who had faced a June trial, made a brief statement in court, saying he accepted responsibility for his actions and knew they were wrong. His plea agreement includes provisions to ensure he cooperates with prosecutors. "We are pleased that Mr. Ujaama has agreed to plead guilty, accept responsibility for his criminal conduct, and cooperate fully regarding others engaged in criminal and terrorist activity both here and abroad," Attorney General John Ashcroft said. "We expect his cooperation to lead to the arrest of additional terrorists and the disruption of future terrorist activity." Prosecutors say Ujaama tried to set up a terrorist-training camp near Bly, Ore., in 1999. Ujaama, who grew up in Seattle, was arrested in Denver in July 2002. As part of the deal, Ujaama will serve two years in prison, with credit for time served since his arrest in July 2002. He could be released from prison in as little as 21 months. He better cooperate with this good a deal. Posted by: Steve 2003-04-15 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=13078 |