Sucks to Be Him

If ever there was a lopsided trial truly this is it. The fitting expression "Zacarias Moussaoui versus the People" springs to mind. With his life in the balance, he is essentially squaring off against an entire nation. I have the feeling that if the prosecutors could, they would subpoena every single American to come and tell their fellows about the trauma of 9/11. And no one would even notice if the trial took 20 years.

Even the dead are testifying against him. To coincide with the trial, many tapes are finally being released of 911 calls and calls from hijacked airplanes (isn't it impossible to make a cell phone call from an airplane). How can you fight the dead? Today Rudy Giuliani testified about his experiences that fateful day and expect more of the same in the days and weeks to come. Hasn't the case against Moussaoui been made?

What's the point of this parade/charade? It must have something to do with national healing and the closely related need to find a scapegoat (and then tear him apart). I'd love to come up with a biblical quote. I probably could from the Old Testament but Jesus was pretty clear that we should turn the other cheek to those that harm us. Don't expect this message to be heard in any of the churches of the red states. Sad that . . .

Beyond national healing and the slaughter of scapegoats, the timing is suspect. Iran's D-Day is pending and it's always good to get the emotions swelling. Hey Moussaoui is a brown guy and so are the Iranians; he hurt us, let's not give them the chance to hurt us. Atom bombs to the rescue then back to the couch and prime time.

Unlike many of the witnesses, I don't think Moussaoui is the devil. He's just a screwed up guy. They'll never allow it but given his behaviour I would speculate as to his mental health and ability to comprehend what is happening to him. This might spare him a lethal injection or worse but have no doubt that the conclusion to this trial has already been set: he's a dead man.

Maybe then the real healing can begin.