not really surprized. the circus will probably drag on for years.

No, it won't. Moussaoui is toast -- he's got less than no legal basis for this motion. His lawyers only filed it because Moussaoui demanded that they do so. They have an incredibly bad relationship with him and they're just covering themselves.

Moussaoui is barred, on several grounds, from withdrawing his plea. While he could, theoretically, appeal his sentence, such an apeal would be frivolous within the narrow legal meaning of the term because it would be impossible for him to show any prejudice -- he received the "minimum" possible sentence.

Moussaoui can file all the federal habeas petitions he wants. He can also write OP-Ed pieces for the Wall Street Journal calling for jihad or letters to Miss Manners asking questions about prison shower etiquette. None of these will ever see the light of day or generate anything vaguely resembling news.

The circus is over.

Pity (well not really), I read the extracts from his motion and I was actually entertained.

Not only is he barking mad, but he has a weirdly clever approach to being barking mad.

It's almost refreshing in a way, his madness and his interesting style at it.

This is still my favourite Moussaoui quote:

In one of Moussaoui's two appearances on the witness stand, he even moved two jurors to chuckles with a touch of self parody.

He said he told a technician sent to his prison to help him use a computer: "Thank-you very much, bye, bye .... I mean God curse you."

Still makes me chuckle.

he puts the fun back in fundamentalist!

Indeed. See one has to learn to cherish such things, Zaouahiri, bin Laden - they would assurdely not be of any amusement value in a similar situation.

I've just read Moussaoui's declaration.

http://notablecases.vaed.uscourts.gov/1:01-cr-00455/docs/72453/0.pdf

This ought to be translated into Arabic and fax blasted to every news outlet in the Islamic world. It's the "public diplomacy" coup of the year.

Yes, actually. I am afraid that the US is going to miss the chance out of pure emotional rejection of the fellow, but his statement is brilliant propaganda.

Oddly I wonder if he can be turned?

This ought to be translated into Arabic and fax blasted to every news outlet in the Islamic world. It's the "public diplomacy" coup of the year.

Heh. "Wait, this wasn't a mock trial? The Americans have rules?"

On the other hand, it could be a wholly calculated move. Maybe he's even listening to his lawyers?

Yes, actually. I am afraid that the US is going to miss the chance out of pure emotional rejection of the fellow, but his statement is brilliant propaganda.

Perhaps the crack Aqoul translation team can spring into action. The distribution itself shouldn't be that hard.

Given his behavior throughout the trial, this is really quite amazing stuff. "20th Hijacker says U.S. legal system is fair and just." I assume, (though I don't actually know) that the Arabic language media has been following this pretty closely. But Moussaoui's motion is relatively obscure. Have they already picked up on it? If so, what are they saying?

Maybe he's even listening to his lawyers?

No, he's not. His lawyers have nothing to say to him at this point and are quite glad to be quit of him.

I didn't notice any coverage as of yet. But I am in exile, so...

As for translation and undertaking US agitprop, well, if the gov pays....

But for free, certainly not, offends my principles.

There's many ways for the story to play out badly, given the source and the circumstances (after belatedly realizing he had a chance to partly weasel out of it after all, madman facing life imprisonment says anything he can to get mercy, including appealing to his captors' moral character). If it were presented just right, by someone trusted by the intended audience, it might work. Or with a lot of luck.

There is always risk.

Anything riskless is not going to be interesting to begin with. Bland PR poodle crap.

I'd offer to translate, but I'm so out of practice the result would end up being something like "Deputy Dan Has No Friends". :-/