“Participation in jihad against the United States is considered among the most virtuous of deeds in Islam and is highly encouraged in the Quran.” How did Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab come to misunderstand the Religion of Peaceâ„¢ so spectacularly? Would any of the vaunted moderates of the Islamic establishment in the West care to explain? Honest Ibe Hooper? Boy Reza Aslan? Brave Ahmed Rehab? “Man of Peace” Imam Rauf? Anyone? Anyone?
More on this story. “‘Underwear bomber’ pleads guilty on all charges,” by Robert Snell and George Hunter for The Detroit News, October 12 (thanks to Pamela Geller):
Detroit”” Accused “underwear bomber” Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab surprised the federal courtroom during the second day of his terrorism trial Wednesday by pleading guilty to all charges.
His plea to eight charges came after he returned from a 45-minute recess, ending the most high-profile terrorism case in the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The 25-year-old Nigerian and self-proclaimed al-Qaida operative faced up to life on the charges that include attempted murder, attempted use of weapons of mass destruction and conspiracy to commit terrorism, for his attempt to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Detroit on Christmas Day 2009.
Abdulmutallab said Wednesday he tried to bomb the plane in retaliation for U.S. support of Israel and to avenge the killing of Muslims in Middle East.
He said the bomb was a “blessed weapon to save the lives of innocent Muslims.”
“Participation in jihad against the United States is considered among the most virtuous of deeds in Islam and is highly encouraged in the Quran,” Abdulmutallab told the judge, reading from a statement.
U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds earlier asked him if he wished to waive his right to a trial and plead guilty.
“That’s right,” he said….
“Guilty,” Abdulmutallab said.
“And are you pleading because you believe you are guilty?” the judge asked him.
“Yes,” he answered.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathan Tukel asked him if he carried an explosive device on board.
“If you say so,” Abdulmutallab said.
“You knew it was an explosive, correct?” Tukel asked him.
“Yes,” he answered.
“It was intended to explode?” Tukel asked him.
“Yes,” Abdulmutallab answered….
“The United States should be warned,” he said. “If the United States continues the blasphemy of Muhammad and the prophets and continues to support those who kill innocent Muslims, it should await a great calamity that will befall them at the hands of the mujahedeen soon or God will strike them directly with a great calamity soon. If you laugh at us now, we will laugh at you later in this life and at the day of judgment.”…
He shouted “Allahu Akbar!” before being handcuffed and escorted out of the courtroom by a deputy U.S. Marshal….