Sami Al-Arian formally pleaded guilty to one watered-down count of aiding a terrorist organization this morning in federal court in Tampa. That simple act bought an end to a decade-long saga that – depending on your viewpoint – either demonstrates our government’s vigilance in dealing with terrorism or its inept harassment of an innocent who happened to disagree with our government.
The former USF professor formally admits his involvement with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad before 1995 (when it became illegal to associate or aid the terrorist group) and his efforts to assist PIJ members after that. But, most importantly, the government's plea bargain finally acknowledges what should have been clear even to the most ardent-Al-Arian hater: that his actions did not create or contribute to violence or result in any deaths.
The plea agreement drew this assessment from our John Sugg, who was among the first (and loudest) critics of the government’s prosecution in the case:
This article appears in Apr 12-18, 2006.