Dec. 9, 2005
St. Petersburg Times
Letters to the Editor
Re: 8 times, Al-Arian hears “not guilty,” Dec. 7
From the onset, the cards were stacked against Sami Al-Arian. Change of venue denied, hundreds of Tampa Bay residents interviewed for the jury were rejected because of their bias. Even some chosen to serve had been “compromised” because the defense had used up all objections. Before the trial began, defendants had been judged guilty by the media. Publicly, Al-Arian had been “tried” and convicted by Bill O’Reilly on network television. Then, arrested and imprisoned for more than 21/2 years, a regime of isolation and deprivation sought to silence and break the will of the articulate and outspoken USF professor.
Stealthily the government laced a case against Al-Arian with (unrelated) linkage to 9/11, the Iraq war, al-Qaida and the “war on terrorism.” But the trial backfired and embarrassed the government, which had spent millions of taxpayer dollars.
Five months of prosecution testimony provided scant evidence and weak linkage for charges of conspiracy to support terrorism. In fact, evidence showed attempts to make connections and seek solutions to alleviate suffering and address problems neglected by the occupiers. Also seen was Al-Arian’s rejection of violence as a solution.
Defense attorneys didn’t need to present a case. It had been done for them. Family, friends and supporters hoped jurors would see beyond the government case and would review all the evidence. It was a “wild card.” And many doubted jurors would see it. Against the odds, they did.
Jurors deserve commendation for a dedication to uphold our system of justice, to ignore bias and concentrate on critical examination of all evidence. The real issue is ignorance. As one juror said, you cannot sit in your car or at your house and determine guilt. You had to be in that courtroom, had to listen, weigh evidence.

— Doris Norrito, Largo

Bankrupt policies and priorities
The not guilty and deadlocked status of charges against former USF professor Sami Al-Arian is another defeat for the champions of secret prisons, CIA kidnaping and torture procedures, prisoner abuse and denying due process.
These charges go down in history with mobile biological laboratories, aluminum tubes for nuclear centrifuges, and imminent threats of weapons of mass destruction as a sham. It truly shows that the emperor, George II, has no clothes.
The Justice Department is again shown to be incompetent. Dr. Steven Hatfield was declared a person of interest in the anthrax case, his life was turned upside down – and no action. Dr. Al-Arian’s saga shows the bankrupt policies and priorities of the Bush/Cheney administration.
— Bruce Berger, Oldsmar

This climate of bullying
At last, this travesty is over. Sami Al-Arian’s life has been turned upside down, his family has suffered terribly, and, after years of persecution, he is finally vindicated. This trial shows what is wrong with labeling people as terrorists before they are given a fair trial.
President Bush has decided that he alone is judge and jury, that he will use his power to decide who is a terrorist, or a “cold-blooded killer” as he has said many times. He has inflamed many in this country with this kind of irresponsible speech, and he has caused great pain to too many innocent people. He has misused his power to embolden the bullies in America.
Remember when we were taught in grade school that it is wrong to be a bully, and that bullies were actually weak people trying to look strong? Now, however, in this climate of bullying, lives are at stake, and many are losing their lives because one man is being allowed to be the world’s bully. This must stop.
— Nancy Morgan, Lutz

Dissenters’ place is precarious
Re: The Al-Arian verdict, editorial, Dec 7.
It is impossible to understand the Times’ preoccupation with the words of Dr. Sami Al-Arian as he urged Palestinians to resist the illegal, Israeli military occupation of their land.
Why is the Times silent about the violent behavior of the governments of the United States and Israel? What about the inhumane treatment of Al-Arian and Sameeh Hammoudeh during their incarceration? As Dr. King said: Before I speak about the violence of others, I will first speak to violence of my own government – an admonition the Times seems reluctant to heed.
I had always felt secure in the knowledge that my civil rights would be respected. Then I found out about the incarceration of Al-Arian’s brother-in-law, Mazen Al-Najjar, on secret evidence that turned out to be nothing but newspaper clippings. With the government’s prosecution and confinement of Al-Arian and the other defendants, I no longer believe my rights are protected, especially if I dissent.
The example of this courageous jury that defied the anti-Muslim public rhetoric will, I hope, encourage others to value and exercise the free speech that our government sought to deny.
— Dwight Lawton, St. Petersburg

Pathetic prosecution
The Sami Al-Arian verdict is a reflection on the mishandled war on terror.
If Al-Arian was, in fact, a bomb-throwing terrorist or a supporter, the prosecution, backed by the nation’s antiterror resources, put on a Keystone Kops-style laugh-fest. The defense didn’t even have to put on a case, for Pete’s sake!
If Al-Arian was not guilty of these charges, as 12 of my peers seem to believe, then this whole experience has been a case of inquisition-style persecution rather than honest and honorable prosecution.
If this case was an example of the war on terror then we’re better off without it. Shame on the prosecutors for even bringing this turkey to trial. And double shame on the administration for locking up a man for exercising his freedom of speech.

— E.J. Ford, Temple Terrace

Authority needs restraint
Re: Sami Al-Arian.
I am so pleased to be an American citizen, though that pleasure comes with a few ticks. An American jury could not find Sami Al-Arian guilty, but it doesn’t change the fact that he has been jailed and will continue to be jailed even though he has not been found guilty. Nor was his brother-in-law before he was deported. Am I the only one who sees a problem with this kind of thinking?

We allow law enforcement to make decisions that affect people’s lives. Decisionmakers must police themselves to prevent innocent people from going through life-altering, unnecessary, expensive, and traumatic situations.
— Susi Croft, Brooksville

More manipulation?
Re: 8 times, Al-Arian hears “not guilty.”
Knowing that our government has allegedly been accused of manipulating intelligence regarding the infamous WMDs in Iraq, could it be possible that Sami Al-Arian is also a victim of governmental manipulation? The eight “not guilty” verdicts demonstrate that it is difficult to prove a man’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
— JoAnn Lee Frank, Clearwater