Zacarias Moussaoui will not be executed for his role in 9/11. So ruled a jury yesterday.

It's easy to be vengeful and wish the guy dead. But the more I think about it, the more I think the life sentence is appropriate.

First, it demonstrates to the Arab world that Americans are not blood-thirsty vengeance seekers. He was brought before a court of law and sentenced. He was not sentenced to death. The criminal justice system should not be used for political purposes. But here, the result might just help American cred a bit.

Second, Mouse was not a top-level player. His claims during his testimony were hateful, but not credible. He was at most a minor functionary and was not perhaps the best first candidate for the death penalty in the 9/11 case. Spending his life in prison, he will live his future like he lived his past--a tiny little al Qaeda piss ant. No martyrdom material here.

- posted by Base10 @ 10:06 AM