Reply #37: The Afghans did not provide a sanctuary [View All]

[jeanpalmer]

for him, after it became known that he was involved in a crime. They offered to turn him over. Before 9-11, they no more offered a sanctuary to 9-11 bombers than did Germany. Why? Because there's no evidence that before 9-11 Germany knew of or supported the 9-11 planning that was going on in their country. Same thing with Afghanistan. If they were unaware of the plot and did not take part in it, they were not offering sanctuary.

That same principle is embodied in our own laws. If your brother who is living with you is planning a crime, you yourself have not committed a crime if you are unaware beforehand of his plans and don't help him. If after the fact, you provide sanctuary for him to avoid capture, then you become an accessory and criminally culpable, but not before. OTOH, if you don't help him after the fact, or if you offer to turn him over to the police, obviously you are not an accessory or criminally culpable and have not "offered sanctuary."