Witness: Islamic Jihad Planned Strike In U.S.

A startling new Al-Arian update from the Tampa Tribune (thanks to Sr. Soph). Chuckles from the defendants' supporters? Because they are only too ready to believe that American officials are lying and trumping up their case against the Rumpled Academic. Unfortunately for them, however, much of Sami's jihad activity seems to have been captured on tape.

TAMPA - The Palestinian Islamic Jihad planned an attack inside the United States, but it might have been thwarted by federal law enforcement, an FBI agent testified Tuesday afternoon.

Agent Kerry Myers said all information about the plot was classified and he could not discuss it.

He made the revelation early in his cross-examination as a witness in the terror-support trial of former University of South Florida professor Sami Al-Arian and three other men. U.S. District Judge James Moody later ordered prosecutors to present evidence about the plot to him during a closed meeting in his chambers to determine whether defense attorneys should have access to it.

Defense attorney William Moffitt had asked Myers whether the Islamic Jihad ever committed a terrorist attack outside Israel or the occupied territories.

It has not, but its leaders threatened to attack the United States three times, Myers said.

During a rapid-fire exchange in which both men's voices rose, Moffitt asked Myers whether anyone ever acted on those threats.

``I can tell you there was a plot to commit terrorist acts in the United States,'' he said. ``It was interdicted, I believe.''

Moffitt asked when that happened.

``It's classified,'' Myers said, drawing chuckles from defendants' relatives and supporters in the courtroom gallery.