JUDGE: TERRORISM IS NOT MORALLY DEFENSIBLE. As the Padilla trial draws to a close:

Jurors in the trial of Jose Padilla and two other men cannot consider whether the men’s actions were justified by Islamic law, a federal judge ruled. The judge, Marcia G. Cooke of Federal District Court, agreed to a request from prosecutors to instruct the jurors that each of the men could be convicted even if they “may have believed that the conduct was religiously, politically or morally required, or that ultimate good would result.” A cornerstone of the defense during the nearly three-month trial has been the idea that Islamic teaching provides for legitimate “defensive jihad.” Mr. Padilla and his co-defendants, Adham Amin Hassoun and Kifah Wael Jayyousi, are charged with being part of a North American terrorism support cell.

If terrorism can be measured by an objective standard, regardless of the terrorists own beliefs or morals--let's apply the same standard to the trial of Hamas in Texas...and to their activities in Gaza.

Compare this terrorist trial with other terrorist trials during the past 12 months.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Padilla and Hamas.