Sami was caught in Pakistan armed with a camera, a large amount of cash and an ID card from Al Jazeera. Having endured several ARB reviews (Administrative Review Board), he has been released from Guantanamo and is in Sudan. Much more detail is available at Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sami_Al_Hajj

While at Guantanamo, Sami has engaged in suspicious activity such as vocally resenting his detainment, fasting, teaching the Koran and teaching other inmates English.

السلام عليكم

It is important to put a face on the terrorists. If we are going to spend $3,000,000,000,000, potentially destroying the US Economy, making us safe from these individuals we ought to get to know a few.

One of them is a guest of the State of Virginia in the Northern Neck Regional Jail - Sami Al Arian. Upon his arrest in 2003, Attorney General John Ashcroft announced a major victory in the "war against terrorism". After a prosecution costing $50,000,000 resulting in zero convictions, the Department of Justice secured a plea bargain agreement which would result in Sami's deportation.

He is still here.

Today would have been Martin's 79th birthday. It will be celebrated on the third Monday in January - January 21st.

Sabbath Work

I have a soft spot in my head and heart for George Ryan. He recently arrived (November 7th) at Oxford Prison, convicted of corruption (the evidence is considerable even though the principal prosecution witness said he had his head in a vise). Oxford was built during my residence in Adams County Wisconsin in the 70s.