Government releases videotapes of alleged Fort Dix terror plot

Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 6:40 PM ET
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By Robert Windrem and Jonathan Dienst, NBC News

Federal officials tonight released dozens of video and audio tapes from the terrorism trial of five men accused of planning an attack on the Fort Dix Army training base in New Jersey. Prosecutors said during opening statements that the men were inspired by al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden.

The tapes show some of the defendants training with automatic weapons at a firing range in the Poconos Mountains in Pennsylvania. Others are downloads and tapes seized from the suspects' homes that show the killing of American troops in Iraq.

The government charges that the men, all foreign-born Muslims in their 20s who lived in suburban New Jersey, conspired to kill U.S. servicemen at Fort Dix. Prosecutors have not said the men were part of any overseas terrorist groups. But they argue that were the defendants not arrested in May 2007, they would have tried to carry out an attack on Fort Dix, where U.S. troops train for deployments to Iraq.

The plot was disrupted when the FBI infiltrated the cell with two paid informants. After prosecutors entered the videotapes into evidence, the Court agreed to post all the tape on a U.S. District Court website.

As the Associated Press is reporting, the government has presented the case as one of the most frightening examples of homegrown terrorism since the Sept. 11 attacks. Authorities said that in 2006 and 2007, the men turned paintball games into terrorist training sessions and met to discuss a plot to sneak into Fort Dix. No attack was carried out.

"Their motive was to defend Islam. Their inspiration was al-Qaida and Osama bin Laden. Their intent was to kill members of the United States armed services," Deputy U.S. Attorney William Fitzpatrick told the jurors.

The suspects could face life in prison if they're convicted during the trial, which is expected to last into December. They were arrested in May 2007.

Lawyers for the defendants said the government's recordings will show that the defendants were not planning anything.

Comments

Being a veteran myself, I cannot downplay any attempt on the life of a US service person, especially here in the U.S.  However, if this is the extent of the Bush administration's assertions that their abuse of our constitutional rights has turned up "terrist" plots, they certainly have vastly overstated their case.

jiminak (Wednesday, October 22, 2008 8:09 PM)


This shows that our national security is of great importance.

john doe (Wednesday, October 22, 2008 8:17 PM)

And we are denigrating President Bush for implementing the necessary procedures to catch these people BEFORE they can attack us on our soil?  Are we all crazy?

Nancy Korb, Bushkill, Pa (Thursday, October 23, 2008 2:02 AM)

Granted, I wasn't there to hear the evidence presented in the attempt to prove or disprove the intent of these "people."  It sure looks like they were planning bad things for America and her citizens, so if they are found to be guilty, they should be executed for treason!  WHY are we afraid to punish even the worst of criminals? WHY are we afraid to punish traitors who take advantage of all the rights and privileges other Americans have earned?  WHY is the trial for this crime in December 2008, when they were arrested in May 2007?  These are questions that can, and SHOULD be answered...and I want to KNOW!

Cat Edwards (Thursday, October 23, 2008 5:52 AM)

life in prison - how about something more humane as a punishment...the electric chair.

john (Thursday, October 23, 2008 7:27 AM)

GOES TO SHOW OUR ENEMIES LIVE AMONG US. HOW DO WE KNOW WHO TO TRUST? BEST NOT TO TRUST ANYONE AND THAT IS SAD.

jeana warren, baltimore, maryland (Thursday, October 23, 2008 8:43 AM)

If this was americans caught doing this in a country such as Iraq or Iran, what would there punishment be--Death! Why do we have to have it pushed down our throats that we have to tolerate these kinds of people(Take it easy, I am only talking about terrorists)in this great nation. Come on folks it is high time that we grow a set and stand up for what is right. I long for the day when we have some leadership and some common sense in America.

Gordon, Maryville, Tn (Thursday, October 23, 2008 8:54 AM)

These men need to see the inside of a prison for a long time and even just plotting the attack needs at least twenty years and a day -no early release!

Fred Beyne-Indianapolis, In. (Thursday, October 23, 2008 8:58 AM)

The same government that gave safe transport out of the USA to the bin Laden family after 9/11, the same government who refused to go after bin Laden, who for all we know is living in the basement of the White House, this government chooses to release these tapes less than 2 weeks before the election.  Right.  Thank you.

Leah Burkhart, Indiana (Thursday, October 23, 2008 9:46 AM)

I'm surprised they didn't wait until 3 days before the election.  Oh, that's right, they had to get to the early voters to.

HEY REPUBLICANS!!!  Are you fear mongering again?

Big T (Thursday, October 23, 2008 10:39 AM)

The US Attorney is clearly out of touch with reality.  Granted, these guys were probably bad guys that deserve to be in jail.  But the underlying political sentiment in his comment "Their motive was to defend Islam" is hilarious, and really, quite telling.

There is no reason to bring in the name of real Islam.  Real Muslims are like real Christians, and believe in nonviolence and the power of love and the unity of mankind.  

People such as these supposed Muslims are not true believers in their own religion, and Mr. Fitzpatrick slanders the name of a huge group of people (Muslims) through his comment.  If he was ignorant of the effects and overall tone of his statement he is surely to be forgiven, but with the administration we have at this time, it is hard to see this as much more than the usual "Al Qaida, Osama, Muslims, Bombs, US forces, Government is good," drivel that has caused a nice state of mass paranoia in America.

Jim, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Thursday, October 23, 2008 10:49 AM)

Sounds like GOP fear tactics days before the election.  Just like showing the WTC terror attacks in the background during their convention.  

Brian, Bellevue, WA (Thursday, October 23, 2008 1:31 PM)

Being naive as to what is happening in their country is what resulted in Sadam Hussein using weapons of mass destruction on thousands of people before the US intervened and saved them from an evil regime.  If Sadam's regime had not been stopped, we wouldn't need "scare tactics" to see what might be  happening.  Many more lives would be lost before we take steps to prevent these groups from carrying out their actions.  Thanks to the Bush administration none of these groups have been able to do their evil deeds.

Carole, St. Stephen, Mn (Thursday, October 23, 2008 2:21 PM)

I believe we should be grateful that our nation has had no more attacks since 9/11.  Instead of looking at this as a political stunt, we should be thinking about how to best keep our nation, and the people of our nation, safe.  Whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, we have been kept safe since 9/11.  But if we elect the wrong person come Nov. 4th, then we'll find out what it's like to have terrorist attacks right here on our own soil once again.

We don't want a weak president or one who is for the terrorists.  We don't want someone who believes America should be given over to terrorists or any other group of people who do not respect people who think differently than they do.  We need a strong government--not one where the president just sits down and talks with terrorists.

Kandy Wells (Thursday, October 23, 2008 3:19 PM)

No doubt these maggots could have killed a lot of young recruits, but if this is an attempt to make me feel better about attacks on our constitution, it is an absolute failure.  Sorry GWB but I will fight you tooth and nail to preserve the one thing that makes America uniquely America.

Dan (Thursday, October 23, 2008 4:28 PM)

Whatever happened to Visa's and tracking foreign people in the US. Close the borders and find people in the country with expired Visas and ship them home. that is what every other country would do to a US citizens in there country. Common sense would go a long way.

JWilliams, Texas (Thursday, October 23, 2008 7:41 PM)

It would be a tragedy if soldiers were killed at Fort Dix, when they could be dying in Iraq, sent by their government to fight a war based on a lie.

Weakly, East Virginia (Friday, October 24, 2008 4:57 AM)

Let's not forget that we armed, trained, supported and ran cover for the largest terrorist group in the world (according to the CIA, 1998), the Albanian terrorists in Kosovo. Those same terrorists came to pay respect at the DNC in '04. Let's not forget that we allowed Bin Laden to rumble through Bosnia when we were there in the 90's. Let's not forget that the only arrest for the Madrid bombings was arrested going from Bosnia. Why should we be surprised we are getting more blowback from years of Democrating coddling of terrorists when they served our needs? And what nationality are they? Isnt that news? It only says their religion.

Rob Enderle, Stowe, VT (Friday, October 24, 2008 6:05 AM)



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