ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) - A former Virginia high school valedictorian who had been detained in Saudi Arabia as a suspected terrorist was charged Tuesday with conspiring to assassinate President Bush and with supporting the al-Qaida terrorist network.

Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, 23, a U.S. citizen, made an initial appearance Tuesday in U.S. District Court but did not enter a plea. He claimed that he was tortured while detained in Saudi Arabia since June of 2003 and offered through his lawyer to show the judge his scars.

The federal indictment said that in 2002 and 2003 Abu Ali and an unidentified co-conspirator discussed plans for Abu Ali to assassinate Bush. They discussed two scenarios, the indictment said, one in which Abu Ali "would get close enough to the president to shoot him on the street" and, alternatively, "an operation in which Abu Ali would detonate a car bomb."

According to the indictment, Abu Ali obtained a religious blessing from another unidentified co-conspirator to assassinate the president.

More than 100 supporters of Abu Ali crowded the courtroom and laughed when the charge was read aloud alleging that he conspired to assassinate Bush.

When Abu Ali asked to speak, U.S. Magistrate Liam O'Grady suggested he consult with his attorney, Ashraf Nubani.

"He was tortured," Nubani told the court. "He has the evidence on his back. He was whipped. He was handcuffed for days at a time."

When Nubani offered to show the judge his back, O'Grady said that Abu Ali might be able to enter that as evidence on Thursday at a detention hearing.

"I can assure you you will not suffer any torture or humiliation while in the (U.S.) marshals' custody," O'Grady said.

Abu Ali is charged with six counts and would face a maximum of 80 years in prison if convicted.

UCBearcats1125 Wrote:More than 100 supporters of Abu Ali crowded the courtroom and laughed when the charge was read aloud alleging that he conspired to assassinate Bush.

I wonder how long the drive was from Bowling Green to Alexandria for SF?

I didn't see any obvious connection between the torture and the assassination plot.

This is some pretty bad journalism.

DrTorch Wrote:I didn't see any obvious connection between the torture and the assassination plot.

He was detained because he was suspected of the assassination plot and because of the detention he was tortured (while in Saudi Arabia).

Regardless if he had a plot to kill the President or not, why would you complain of being tortured while incarcerated in a country that has public beheadings for the worst offenders.
I would consider myself lucky to be alive and have all of my limbs... :rolleyes:

jw

Nobody is going to be happy because they were "just tortured".

If I go to jail for life in the US, should I be happy because, I didn't get the death penalty?

tigerjoe Wrote:Regardless if he had a plot to kill the President or not, why would you complain of being tortured while incarcerated in a country that has public beheadings for the worst offenders.

Because he is a US citizen and a country with which the United States has good relations should not treat a US citizen in that manner.