Jose Padilla Is Sentenced to 17 Years

i bet Jose thinks waterboarding is torture....


MIAMI -- Jose Padilla, once accused of plotting with al-Qaida to blow up a radioactive "dirty bomb," was sentenced Tuesday to 17 years and four months on terrorism conspiracy charges that don't mention those initial allegations.

The sentence imposed by U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke marks another step in the extraordinary personal and legal odyssey for the 37-year-old Muslim convert, a U.S. citizen who was held for 3 1/2 years as an enemy combatant after his 2002 arrest amid the "dirty bomb" allegations.

Prosecutors had sought life in prison, but Cook said she arrived at the 17-year sentence after taking into consideration the "harsh conditions" during Padilla's lengthy military detention at a Navy brig in South Carolina.

"I do find that the conditions were so harsh for Mr. Padilla ... they warrant consideration in the sentencing in this case," the judge said.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/22/AR2008012200565_pf.html

was there any evidence ever presented that any "dirty bomb" plot ever existed outside the fevered brain of john ashcroft?

asking, not telling, i'm sure i could have easily missed it

but i never heard anything convincing at all

17 years for what? good question

The judge also said the case lacked evidence linking Padilla and the other two defendants to specific acts of terrorism. "There is no evidence that these defendants personally maimed, kidnapped or killed anyone in the United States or elsewhere," Cooke said.

and mr. padilla is a united states citizen