Several who went to Pakistan with Zazi back in U.S./Current Event 2

Background: Afghan-born Colorado resident Najibullah Zazi was arrested September 20 on charges of misleading investigators when he was found to have lied about the ownership of handwriting found on bombmaking materials; the handwriting was found to be that of Zazi.  Investigators believe that Zazi is the ringleader of an al-Qaeda cell preparing to launch a terrorist attack in the United States.

Summary: Several men who are thought to have been conspiring with Zazi to execute a terrorist attack are now back in the United States.  These men, who travelled to Peshewar, Pakistan with Zazi in August (Peshewar is known to have a strong al-Qaeda presence), are currently under surveillence by the federal government.  Meanwhile, Zazi is on trial in New York, where he is pleading not guilty to conspiring with others to detonate explosives in the United States.

Analysis: The evidence against Zazi and his co-conspirators is staggering, but yet Zazi continues to deny any terrorist leanings.  Zazi must feel that he has some upper-hand on the prosecution in this case.  If Zazi is indeed involved in al-Qaeda, he will most likely have much support in attempting to win his case.

Editorial: Najibullah Zazi is unmistakably a terrorist.  I do not understand why our country treats non-citizens who have shown interest in harming citizens to many of the same rights as the citizens themselves.  Yes, we need to be careful not to step too far and arrest those who simply critique our government or values, but there is substantial evidence to conclude that Zazi and his co-conspirators were planning to kill many American citizens.  We cannot afford to let Zazi go free on some legal loophole in a civil trial.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/10/04/us.terror.probe/index.html