Ex-sailor convicted - Gave secrets to terror supporters

[SqdnGuns 21]

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut (AP) -- A former Navy sailor was convicted Wednesday of leaking details about ship movements to suspected terrorism supporters, an act that could have endangered his crew mates.

Jurors convicted Hassan Abu-Jihaad, 32, of Phoenix, Arizona, of providing material support to terrorists and disclosing classified national defense information.

The American-born Muslim convert formerly known as Paul R. Hall could face 25 years in federal prison when he is sentenced May 23. His attorneys said an appeal was likely.

The leak came amid increased wariness on the part of U.S. Navy commanders whose ships headed to the Persian Gulf in the months after a terrorist ambush in Yemen in 2000 killed 17 sailors aboard the USS Cole.

Abu-Jihaad, who was a signalman aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Benfold, was accused of passing along details that included the makeup of his Navy battle group, its planned movements and a drawing of the group's formation when it was to pass through the dangerous Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf on April 29, 2001.

Abu-Jihaad's attorney said a four-year investigation that spanned two continents failed to turn up proof that Abu-Jihaad leaked details of ship movements and their vulnerability to attack.

Federal prosecutors said he sympathized with the enemy and admitted disclosing military intelligence. But they acknowledged they did not have direct proof that he leaked the ship details.

Authorities said the details of ship movements had to have been leaked by an insider, saying they were not publicly known and contained military jargon. The leaked documents closely matched what Abu-Jihaad would have had access to as a signalman, authorities said.

Dan LaBelle, Abu-Jihaad's attorney, tried to show that many details of ship movements he was accused of leaking to suspected terrorism supporters were publicly available through news reports, press releases and Web sites. He also noted that Navy officials testified that the details were full of errors.

Prosecutors say investigators discovered files on a computer disk recovered from a suspected terrorism supporter's home in London that included the ship movements, as well as the number and type of personnel on each ship and the ships' capabilities. The file ended with instructions to destroy the message, according to testimony.

Abu-Jihaad was charged in the same case that led to the 2004 arrest of Babar Ahmad, a British computer specialist accused of running Web sites to raise money, appeal for fighters and provide equipment such as gas masks and night vision goggles for terrorists.

Ahmad, who lived with his parents where the computer file was allegedly found, is to be extradited to the United States.

Abu-Jihaad, who was honorably discharged in 2002, was prosecuted in New Haven because the investigation first focused on a Connecticut-based Internet service provider.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/03/05/navy.t...r.ap/index.html

25 years isn't enough, death by firing squad.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

...or tie an anchor to his leg and throw him overboard. Unbelievable to serve and be discharged honorably and then betray his own guys.

[Ban Hammer 14,300]

...or tie an anchor to his leg and throw him overboard. Unbelievable to serve and be discharged honorably and then betray his own guys.

maybe they'll stick him in the db.

[Jasman0717 9]

Good, he can go keep Robert Hansen company

[Scott & Lai 12]

...or tie an anchor to his leg and throw him overboard. Unbelievable to serve and be discharged honorably and then betray his own guys.

Preceed that with the fine naval tradition of keel-hauling

[wishbone 0]

It is really hard for army but this really happens. Most of the men working so hard and even sacrificing their lives which all become wasted with this kind of traitors within them. Hope his punishment serve as example to others like him within the formation.

Edited March 6, 2008 by wishbone

[SqdnGuns 21]

More info about the case here:

http://www.cicentre.com/Documents/DOC_hass...l_hall_case.htm

Very interesting read...............