Soccer Dad

New Headlines, Old Warning

There've been a few articles about Ambassador Kurtzer's recent criticisms of the PA trial of four "suspects" for killing three American aid workers. (As far as I can tell, neither the Washington Post nor the New York Times had any coverage. Shame on them.)
The Jerusalem Post ran Kurtzer faults PA probe of Gaza attack and Ha'aretz reported "U.S. slams PA trial of suspects in U.S. convoy bombing" The Jerusalem Post carries a lot more of Kurtzers remarks.
Inadvertantly, a few days ago I found this:

Israel Law Center Director Nitsana Darshan-Leitner has written to United States Attorney General John Ashcroft alerting him to the fact the Palestinian Security Service commander assigned to investigate the October bombing attack on American personnel in Gaza was very likely the terrorist who planned it.

Gaza Commander Col. Rashid Abu Shabak’s has been entrusted by the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation with hunting down the terrorist cell responsible for the October 15, 2003 bombing which left three Americans dead.

The three Americans, John Branchizio, 37, of Texas, John Linde Jr., 30, of Missouri, and Mark Parsons, 31, of New Jersey, were security personnel guarding a convoy of diplomatic vehicles which was attacked by Palestinian Arab terrorists who detonated a powerful roadside bomb at the Beit Hanoun junction in Gaza. The Americans were visiting Gaza to interview candidates for Fulbright scholarships.

Two months ago, at the time of that press release, no one had yet been arrested. Now that there are some scapegoats, if Ms. Darshan-Leitner is correct, they are not likely the guilty party. I have every reason to think that she is correct.
Crossposted on Israpundit and Soccer Dad.

Posted by SoccerDad at February 11, 2004 03:32 PM | TrackBack