Zacarias Moussaoui

Deadly Fanatic, or Fiery Scapegoat?

The fatal attacks of September 11^th, 2001, evoked emotions in the People of the United States of America that could barely be described. Our headlines described them as best they could, the most powerful responses - grief, confusion, fear, and perhaps most potent of all, retribution. Families whose loved ones were struck down in the fall of the twin towers, vengeful politicians, religious groups, even the core of the media began to create the famous "War on Terror..." supported by some, condemned by many.

The issue is controversial. But one fact remains: a multitude of working citizens died in the ashes of the World Trade Center. And those who can be truly held responsible seem to evade every attempt of capture. That is, until a clear supporter of the famous al-Qaida terrorist organization was brought to trial, nearly five years after the fatal attack.

Zacarias Moussaoui prayed quietly as the verdict was passed through the Jury, with a group of witnesses and grievers gathered around the courtroom and waiting with baited breath. His meek form was a stark contrast to his former self, an unrepentant, violent, loud man who had recently screamed the words, "You'll never get my blood...God curse you all!"

Witnesses included not only high-ranking government officials and investigators, but also the family members of those who had been killed in the burning remains of the World Trade Towers, after terrorist-hijacked airliners met with the towers of steel and cement.

Moussaoui is accused of lying to FBI officials, withholding information that could have prevented the deaths of thousands. He is the first man to be brought to trial in this country after being connected with the terrorist attack. He has been defended - apparently against his will - by a public defense lawyer, who hoped to bring the minimum charge (life in prison) into effect by pleading that his client suffers from schizophrenia - caused by a childhood of poverty which made him subject to severe racism in his homeland of France because of his Moroccan descent.