And he says he wanted to set off the bomb because the U.S. is “terrorizing the Muslim nations and the Muslim people.” Now would be a perfect opportunity for ostensible “moderates” like Honest Ibe Hooper and Brave Ahmed Rehab to explain why they don’t believe that the U.S. is terrorizing Muslim nations, and don’t think Muslims should be waging jihad against the U.S. Honest Ibe? Brave Ahmed? Anyone? Anyone?
“Times Square car bomb suspect pleads guilty in NYC,” from AP, June 21:
NEW YORK – A Pakistan-born U.S. citizen pleaded guilty to trying to bomb Times Square and says he is “part of the answer to the U.S. terrorizing the Muslim nations and the Muslim people.”
Faisal Shahzad (FY’-sul shah-ZAHD’) defiantly made the statement in federal court Monday as he pleaded guilty to a 10-count indictment charging him in the failed bombing.
He also says he actually tried to set off three separate bombs in an SUV parked near a Broadway theater May 1 to injure and kill people but that all three failed to ignite. The Bridgeport, Conn., resident was arrested two days later.
Shahzad (FY’-sul shah-ZAHD’) said he was trained by the Pakistan Taliban in Pakistan in late December and early January before he returned to the United States in February to build his bomb.
Sentencing is Oct. 5.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.
NEW YORK (AP) — A Pakistan-born U.S. citizen pleaded guilty Monday to carrying out the failed Times Square car bombing, saying he wanted it known that unless the U.S. stops attacking Muslim lands, “we will be attacking U.S.”
Faisal Shahzad, 30, entered the plea in U.S. District Court in Manhattan just days after a federal grand jury indicted him on 10 terrorism and weapons counts, some of which carried mandatory life prison sentences.
Shahzad made the plea and an accompanying statement as U.S. District Judge Miriam Goldman Cedarbaum began asking him a lengthy series of questions to ensure he understood his rights. She did not immediately accept the plea.
Cedarbaum asked Shahzad if he understood he might spend the rest of his life in prison. He said he did.
At one point, she asked him if he was sure he wanted to plead guilty.
He said he wanted “to plead guilty and 100 times more” to let the U.S. know that if it did not get out of Iraq and Afghanistan, halt drone attacks and stop meddling in Muslim lands, “we will be attacking U.S.”…