(Colorado) 3 arrested for false statements in terror probe

[demoleft]

Source: AP

DENVER – A 24-year-old Colorado airport shuttle driver and his father were arrested on formal charges of making false statements to federal agents in an ongoing terror investigation, and a third man was arrested in New York City on the same charges, the Justice Department said Sunday.

Najibullah Zazi, 24, and his father, Mohammed Wali Zazi, 53, were arrested by federal agents late Saturday at their suburban Denver homes. Ahmad Wais Afzali, 37, of Flushing, New York, also was arrested, the Justice Department said.

Each was charged with knowingly and willfully making false statements to the FBI "in a matter involving international and domestic terrorism," the department said in a statement.


Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090920/ap_on_re_us/us_nyc_terror

[DCKit]

1. Sounds like it's time for their Congressmen to get involved.

I smell bullshit.

[Alhena]

2. You sound sympathetic. Are you assuming that they aren't really terrorists?

What if they were really intending to kill many Americans- should their Congressmen still give them a hand?

[PSPS]

4. I think he's just being skeptical

After so many cases of the FBI using informants to create, out of whole cloth, fantastic "plots" and enlist "members" from the deep pool of drunken losers out there who then get "busted," only to be later either released or acquitted, it's understandable and, in fact, warranted to be skeptical.

For example, in the OP's posted link, the story says this:

"The arrests carried out tonight are part of an ongoing and fast-paced investigation," said David Kris, assistant attorney general for national security. "It is important to note that we have no specific information regarding the timing, location or target of any planned attack."

We'll see what comes of this, I presume. If nothing else, this demonstrates how all of this is supposed to be handled: within the law using traditional police methods. None of bush's jack-booted thuggery, gitmo or torture is necessary at all.

[dr_aswan]

11. name someone who's last name at least half "Z's" thats not a terrorist...

AAA HAAAA Guilty...

[IndianaGreen]

14. If the FBI has such a great record in catching bad guys

why does it have to rely on unreliable informants and confessions extracted through torture to make a case?

[wordpix]

19. where in this article does it say torture was used in getting confessions after earlier lies by

the accused?

I must have missed that. :sarcasm:

Just because BushCheneyRummy OK'd torture does not mean Obama is doing same. :crazy:

[The Stranger]

15. Remaining critical of a government that has dispensed with due process is not being "sympathetic."

That's not going to fly here.

Everyone gets due process. If they don't get it, then neither do you.

[Clear Blue Sky]

3. What's bullshit? He admitted involvement.

[curlyred]

8. the FBI hasn't officially said that, have they?

I've been following this pretty closely here in Denver. The FBI hasn't made hardly any official statements, but the news media has been publishisng a lot of speculation and 'sources say" stuff. Local talk radio has been especially egregious in this regard, so much so that some drunks with guns showed up yesterday at this guy's apartmnet complex. I don't understand why the FBI wouldn't have arrested him long ago if they had any real evidence of involvement in a terrorist plot. Instead they let im go home after day-long sessions, until day 4 when he refused to asnwer any more questions. Very odd.

[wordpix]

20. geesh, read the 1st paragraph!

DENVER – A 24-year-old Colorado airport shuttle driver and his father were arrested on formal charges of making false statements to federal agents in an ongoing terror investigation, and a third man was arrested in New York City on the same charges, the Justice Department said Sunday. snip

The whole article makes clear what's going on. These guys made false statements, there are dots leading to bomb making, a Pakistani camp, and a rental truck.

Do you want someone to blow up the Capitol first and have the FBI ask questions later--- or what? These guys should absolutely be given due process, but there are fishy things going on, including lies and bomb making. There's nothing wrong with arresting them on these charges.

[curlyred]

23. posting an article published after my response is bullshit

Furthermore, arresting someone for making false statements is a far cry from arresting them for a bomb plot, you jerk.

[saigon68]

24. More Sheep/Freepers here licking the FBI's scrotum

[earthside]

10. Not Necessarily True

Here's the link to this morning's report in the Denver Post:
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_13376280

It was 'reported' that he admitted a link, there isn't any conformation.

It sounds to me like after three days of interrogation, the lawyer said to either charge his client or let him go. Getting arrested for making "false statements" is pretty thin, the feds are obviously fishing for something.

My hunch is that there is not a lot to this ... we have seen this before. The feds are a bit paranoid and need to justify their multi-billion dollar "homeland" security budget every now and then with a public event like this.

Let's hope I'm right, uh, and there wasn't or isn't some deadly plot afoot.

[Pavulon]

6. He should call god and thank him he is not in gbay..

a few years ago he would be upside down with someone pouring water up his nose. Glad to see these guys in the criminal justice system. If convicted they can all rot in florence adx.

[timo]

5. got my tinfoil hat on

this seems a little dodgy to me as well, I am not sympathetic to terror, just seems a little wag the doggish.....

[Pavulon]

7. Umm no.

this guy was being watched and was arrested. pretty simple.

[Robb]

9. Scanned images on a laptop, in a rental car, of handwritten notes

...describing how to make bombs and detonators.

If he's not a criminal, he's stupid all right.

[mike_c]

12. more scapegoats to flog the "war on terra...."

"We have always been at war with Eastasia."

[IndianaGreen]

13. This case is beginning to fall apart right in front of our eyes

If you can be charged with lying when your voluntary statement to FBI conflicts with statements given under torture, then none of us is safe.

[The abyss]

17. The case hasn’t fallen apart because…

The government appears to be willing to push this to the max – so far anyway.

Who was the federal prosecutor that claimed he could get an indictment against a ham-sandwich? Obviously clarifying how far the game was rigged.

Love your logic! Why can’t anyone else get it?

Personally, I figure this is all about selling the Patriot extensions.

[The abyss]

18. Please excuse my error.

That comment was made by (judge) Sol Wachtler, in reference to Texas prosecutor, Ronnie Earle,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_jury

None the less I feel the system is rigged and has been for a very long time.

PS I always loved that ham-sandwich comment!

[st8grad93]

22. Where is your evidence of torture ?

[subcomhd]

16. they aren't being whisked off to a Navy brig and declared enemy combatants

like Padilla? Obama is like Bush, my ass.

[Crabby Appleton]

21. Here are the Criminal Complaints filed to get the arrest warrants

for the 3 arrested:

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/co/press_releases/2009/September09/N.Zazi.pdf

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/co/press_releases/2009/September09/M.Zazi.pdf

http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/co/press_releases/2009/September09/A.Afzali.pdf