I'll take 'The next terrorist to be free as a bird for $400, Alex'.

Funny, how hearing about terrorists being released left and right makes me think of Aafia Siddiqui. 

It's been a while since we visited with Aafia as she plays crazy in an American prison, but I'm sure you remember her. 

(What's that you say?  Too many terrorists and not enough time to remember the Gray Lady of al Qaeda?  Additional background can be found here and in the current archives if your interested.  If you're REALLY interested a copy of the criminal complaint against her can be found here.)

Anyways, I'm taking bets that Aafia will be the next one to be released on compassionate grounds.  So let's see what's she been up to.

July 5th - at the trial to determine her mental competency, Aafia, was spotted in the full monty of Islamogarb - a white niqab instead of the wool blanket worn over her head in previous court appearances.  She interrupted the proceedings claiming that "she was not psychotic and just wanted 'to fix the mess in Pakistan and Afghanistan and "help U.S. President Barack Obama make peace". 

Isn't that just special?  Well, the judge must have thought so too, because on July 28th, I'm happy to report that Aafia (after following the instructions in her al Qaeda manual to feign being crazy as a shi&house rat) was deemed fit to stand trial. 

"The Court finds that Dr Siddiqui is competent to stand trial by a preponderance of the evidence," U.S. District Judge Richard Berman in Manhattan federal court said in a written order.

"Dr Siddiqui has sufficient present ability to consult with her lawyers with a reasonable degree of rational understanding and she also has a rational as well as a factual understanding of the proceedings against her."

On August 18th, the Pakistani government took steps to obtain new legal representation for Ms. Siddiqui.  I guess the government wasn't happy with the court appointed attorney OR the judge's ruling.  But there's a fly in the ointment:  A Lahore court has issued a restraining order against the government's payment of legal fees to the three US attorneys retained and contempt of court charges have been filed.  In addition, the US judge has yet to determine their suitability to represent Ms. Siddiqui.  He is expected to rule in the next few days.

The bad news?  The Pakistani foreign office continues to aggressively press for her release to Pakistan and there's an active case in the courts for her repatriation to Pakistan.  

I look for the Obama administration to cave on this one.  Just saying.  (I wonder who will ride on the private jet back to Pakistan with her?  Hillary or hubby Bill? haha)

Here in the US the usual suspects are still agitating for her release and her family has issued a statement thanking 'their partner' the Muslim Legal Fund of America. These grudgemongers and Islam-o-baiters are at the forefront of the legal jihad being waged by so called MODERATE Muslims here in the good, old U S of A.  Nice.

Her trial is slated to begin October 19th.  Mark your calendars.

About her new lawyers and "their partners" the Muslim Legal Fund of America...

First, we have Ms Linda Moreno, she sounds like a real peach.

Linda Moreno has a unique and diverse clientele; she has represented a  Palestinian professor accused of terrorism (Sami al Arian) and an African American actor of international renown indicted on tax fraud (Wesley Snipes). An American oil company defending a wrongful death suit on international soil retained her to assist in jury selection.  A foreign embassy sought her services in representing a native Egyptian son accused of terrorism related charges. (Goose Creek bomber Ahmed Mohammed and jihad buddy of Youssef Megahed.  'Memba them?)

Up next is ambulance chaser people's lawyer and Shaken Baby expert, Ms Elaine Sharp.

Among other types of cases, Elaine Whitfield Sharp represents parents and care-providers who have been wrongly accused of child abuse, particularly so-called "Shaken Baby Syndrome." She has recently represented "Shaken Baby" clients in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Kentucky, Kansas, and Florida. She has been retained as a consultant by attorneys in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Texas, Iowa, California, I
Idaho, and Kansas.

And last but not least we have, Charles Swift - the hero of Guantanamo and legal representative for terror scumbag, Salim Hamdan.

From wikipedia:  As Hamdan's legal counsel, Swift, together with the Seattle law firm of Perkins Coie, Neal Katyal, appealed Hamdan's writ of habeas corpus petition to the U. S. Supreme Court. In Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, 548 U.S. 557, 126 S.Ct. 2749 (2006), the justices ultimately held that the military commission to try Salim Hamdan was illegal and violated the Geneva Conventions as well as the United States Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).

Her family has also issued a statement which reads in part:

“In partnership with the Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), we recommended and endorse the legal team retained by the Government of Pakistan to defend Aafia”...

More to come...