All along, through the trial of this “conspirator”, it was obvious that he was guilty of something.  He did not get to go on one of the planes sent to self-destruct when flown into a target.  He was small change and not of one big planners of the infamous act of 9/11/01. He was, in fact, the only connection that our authorities were able to come with to bring to trial.

What Moussaoui was guilty of was that he was eager to get caught and be used as a political tool to sell the message that his American jailers, court functionaries and the American Government were fumbling idiots who could not get the trial over in a rational and timely way.  Way too much time and way too much money was spent on this show trial for small stuff.  He was given a very large podium to shout nonsense and abuse which he obviously believed in but to what effect?  He was allowed freedom of expression that told his listeners this very process was the weakness of America.  His freedom of expression allowed all who heard it or read it could see he was not Osama bin Laden or one of the higher echelons of planners of attacks on targets all over the world.  He was and is small stuff. He was definitely guilty of something, possibly by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Now, as to the sentencing: I agree with the jury that the death penalty was not the proper end to this story.  I stand with those who oppose the death penalty in any case.  But the best reason advanced is that they wanted him be punished more severely by a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Short of freeing him and sending him into exile, this was the better ending. To sentence him to death and carrying it out would not be cruel or unusual and cruel and unusual is what is called for in this heinous exercise of humiliating the United States.

We do not want to make him a martyr.  But he already is because he was able to make political capital when his words and his raised fist was shown throughout the world where he is regarded as a hero. Putting him out of sight in a prison cell for the rest of his life and restricting his contact with other human beings is very much like the picture of the Count of Monte Cristo who was in a cell not knowing who testified against him and the reason for his incarceration.  That “Count” tunneled his way out to freedom and retribution.  Mr. Moussaoui will soon be put out of sight and out mind and our world. We will soon forget him and perhaps bring justice to the prisoners without names and without accusations who are held incommunicado in a Cuban prison or who are turned over to other countries who will torture and do what we are unwilling to do.