He came back the day before 9/11

Al-Marri due for sentencing in Peoria on Wednesday. Oh, but his attorneys say:

"Although (Marri's) conduct was serious and deserving of appropriate punishment," his attorneys wrote in a court filing, "he was a minor player ... his actions did not cause harm to anyone ... and his involvement in any future plot was entirely speculative."

Let's see:

After meeting with al-Qaida leadership in early 2000, Marri returned to central Illinois, renting a small apartment in Macomb, about 60 miles west of Peoria.

Much of what Marri is alleged to have done during the two months he lived in Macomb is still unknown. But he admitted in court to attending several terrorist training camps between 1998 and 2001 in Pakistan.

By the time Marri returned for a final time to the U.S., the day before the 9/11 attacks, prosecutors said he had already met with al-Qaida leaders Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and Mustafa al-Hawsawi and been told to hide out in America while awaiting his orders.

According to prosecutors, Marri spent much of the fall of 2001 researching chemical weapons and possible U.S. targets.

Will they let him out for time served? Let's recall a little more detail here, shall we:

Al-Marri was instructed by [KSM] to enter the United States no later than Sept. 10, 2001[.] . . . [KSM] also directed al-Marri to meet with Mustafa al-Hawsawi . . . in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where al-Hawsawi provided him with $10,000. . . . Al-Hawsawi was a primary financier of the September 11th attacks. . . .

Al-Marri and his family arrived in the United States on Sept. 10, 2001. . . . Al-Marri used . . . e-mail accounts to inform [KSM] that he had arrived safely in the United States. . . . From Sept. 23, 2001 through Nov. 4, 2001, al-Marri made several unsuccessful attempts to call al-Hawsawi and others he knew were al-Qaeda operatives. . . . Although the initial calls were made from payphones in the Peoria area, after al-Marri was interviewed by the FBI on Oct. 2, 2001, he expanded the calling area, sometimes traveling more 160 miles away to place calls. Al-Marri also conducted online research of various cyanide compounds, including hydrogen cyanide, potassium cyanide, and sodium cyanide. He reviewed toxicity levels, locations where these items could be purchased, and specific pricing of the compounds. He also explored obtaining sulfuric acid, a well-known binary agent used in a hydrogen cyanide binary device to create cyanide gas. Al-Marri agrees that the government would prove at trial this is the method taught by al Qaeda for manufacturing cyanide gas.

Al-Marri agrees that the government would prove at trial that his research into cyanide compounds is consistent with research conducted by persons trained in camps teaching advanced poisons courses to terrorist organizations, including al Qaeda. He also agrees that the government would prove at trial that an almanac recovered in his residence was bookmarked at pages showing dams, waterways and tunnels in the United States, consistent with al Qaeda attack planning regarding the use of cyanide gases.

And remember, al Marri confessed to being a terrorist and providing support for two of the chief architects of 9/11. The 15 year max sentence negotiated by the Obama Holder Justice Dept. is already a sweetheart deal. Just a minor thing. What's a stray bit of cyanide.

Why Peoria?

I wonder if al-Marri's brother is still in prison at Gitmo. Will he be coming to Michigan? Such nice Midwest locations, not far from the Windy City.