Britain - Shoe bomber jailed

The Mirror (UK) reports.

British shoebomber Saajid Badat was today jailed for 13 years although he had backed out of the plan.

Badat, of Gloucester, admitted planning to explode a shoe bomb on a transatlantic flight at the same time as convicted shoebomber Richard Reid - in December 2001.

But the court heard that Badat, 25, could not face "being a courier of death" and had abandoned the plan.

At the Old Bailey today Mr Justice Fulford said Badat could have been facing a term of more than 50 years if he had gone ahead with the plan to blow up a passenger jet.

But he added: "It would not be in the public interest to send out a message that if would-be terrorist turn away from death and destruction before any lives are put at risk, the courts will not reflect in a significant and real way any such genuine change of heart in the sentence which is handed down."

Badat was arrested more than two years after Reid. A device, identical to the one found on Reid, was discovered in his flat. It had been dismantled. Reid failed to ignite his shoebomb in mid-air but he was later jailed for life in America.

Where does one begin with this one?

The guy backs out of the plan because he "could not face "being a courier of death". Since he didn't turn Reid in it seems he didn't mind if Reid was a courier of death. The BBC report that Badat "admitted conspiring with fellow Briton Richard Reid."

In the same BBC article it says "An e-mail from Badat to his family on 14 December 2001 indicated he intended to withdraw from the plot." So why isn't the family being prosecuted for failing to warn the police?


Judge, I also notice that Badat was arrested two years after Reid was caught. That would imply that Badat did not turn himself in at the time of Reid's capture. That two years would be plenty of time for Badat and Reids handlers to hide evidence and flee the country. Did you think about that judge?

And did I read that right, Badat was looking at only 50 years had gone ahead with his plan to blow up hundreds of innocent men, women and children?

Reid did not fail to ignite his shoebomb as the Mirror puts it. Reid was prevented from igniting it after a struggle with passengers and crew.

The article continues...

Badat admitted training in Afghanistan and being given the shoebomb at the same time as Reid. After having a change of heart, he told his handlers he had pulled out. The judge said the conspiracy was "truly appalling" but accepted that Badat was not willing to go through with it.

He said: "In December 2001 you posed a very grave risk indeed to the public. In April 2005, you no longer do.

"I hope that you now renounce this kind of activity and would encourage those minded to participate in it, to set their faces against it."

This guy was trained in Afghanistan, given a shoebomb at the same time as Reid but changes his mind and pulls out thereby failing his mission and endangering the Reid mission. And his terrorists handlers just said, Oh that's ok Badat, we understand, and let him live? That sound right to you?

So the judge wants Badat to encourage his handlers to "set their faces against it". Er, judge how about threatening Badat with life in prison if he doesn't give you the names of his handlers.

Now, now, now, you don't want to offend British Muslims do you?

And just a reminder...

The Muslim Council of Britain is considered "the" moderate voice of Muslims in Britain. Here is what their leader, Iqbal Sacranie, recently had to say about Muslim terrorists.

'There is no such thing as an Islamic terrorist. This is deeply offensive.

Now Iqbal, that just ain't so.
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