Islamic terrorist nets life for embassy plot
Mohammed Mansour Jabarah, Islamic terrorist, nets life for embassy plot – also conspired to kill his security detail
Islamic jihad terrorist Mohammed Mansour Jabarah did not come off as particularly sincere about his lamentations at sentencing last week over a misspent youth listening to Islamic propaganda.
A federal judge gave him life in prison for plotting to blow up American embassies despite his claims to being a “changed man.”
Jabarah argued against reports prepared for his sentencing, stating in letters to Federal Judge Barbara S. Jones that the guidelines toward a life sentence were unreasonable.
U.S. Attorneys David Raskin and Jennifer G. Rodgers in letters filed late last year “with additional facts regarding the defendant’s post-plea plan to kill agents in his security detail and prosecutors on this case,” they stated.
The case stems back to a sealed plea deal in July 2002, in which Jabarah stayed out of prison on a bond agreement and had U.S. government protection.
The case documents received an order for unsealing Thursday, Jan. 17, as it headed to a sentencing phase.
Jabarah pleaded guilty as charged to conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, murder of U.S. nationals, killing a citizen outside the U.S. and explosives us in commission of a felony.
Complete document copies, including the indictment “information” agreed to by Jabarah in lieu of formal charges, were still unavailable publicly as of press time.
Jabarah characterized himself as a “naïve adolescent” brainwashed into the plot, and promised he was a “changed man,” according to published reports on the case.
Judge Jones, in Manhattan Federal Court, gave him life, though adding she could credit him in a moral sense for repudiating violence.
"Actions speak louder than words," she said as she imposed the sentence.
Jabarah is a Canadian citizen; published reports indicated he delivered a “convoluted 20-minute speech” blaming evil men who exploit him, his “youth and inexperience.”
"I am not a ruthless, infamous and notorious terrorist," Jabarah said. "I do not believe in terrorism, violence and killing."
Jabarah was 19 when he was captured in Oman after the collapse of his bombing plot.
The U.S. held him since 2002, as Canada intelligence services turned him over - he secretly pleaded guilty to terrorism charges as part of a short-lived plea bargain in which he gave over valuable information on al-Qaeda leaders.
Information included background on Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, personal meetings with Osama bin Laden and details on several other high ranking al-Qaida lieutenants.
Published reports noted he came clean on his involvements, how he came to plot against Israeli and American embassies after graduating from St. Catharines High School, Ontario.
He lived in the Ontario area since moving from Kuwait at age 12. After high school, Jabarah got away to Afghanistan to train at al-Qaida camps in 2001.
Prosecutors said a counter-terrorist roundup foiled his preparations for bombing attacks against targets in Singapore and the Philippines.
Rodgers said, "This was far from a half-baked plot.” A suicide bomber had been lined up for the first attack and tons of explosives stockpiled. "Mr. Jabarah is the real deal," she added.
After pleading guilty in 2002, Jabarah moved about among a series of FBI safe houses in the U.S., “where he lived in relative comfort, with a stereo and his own kitchen,” published reports noted.
This ended several months later upon FBI discovery of jihadist writings and a weapon hidden in luggage along with a list of U.S. agents assigned to his protection.
An added roster of prosecutors in his case was interpreted as a hit list – persons Jabarah wanted to kill.
Jabarah has been in the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan, in solitary confinement for four years.
Jabarah also expressed contempt against America, musing over how he might return to terrorism if only he could escape.
Despite the falling out with U.S. intelligence, U.S. officials attempted to re-enlist Jabarah as an informant in 2006, to build indictments against several terrorist leaders.
Jabarah, prosecutors said, is choosing to remain loyal to bin Laden.
In comments before sentencing in court, Jabarah said he ought to be released so he could go to college, become a doctor and spend time with his family.
Published reports of his oration noted a flowery style as he mentioned reasons for world turmoil, his love for Allah, his god, and his parents. "Illuminate the brightness of my bright future," he said.
Judge Jones said his statements would have born some weight if he had agreed to resume his cooperation with investigators.