Another Chapter in the “War on Terror”

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that the latest “terrorism” case has fizzled:

An ice cream vendor charged with lying to the FBI about his son’s attendance at a terrorist training camp pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, closing another chapter in a terror probe focused on a town inhabited by hundreds of people of Pakistani origin. Umer Hayat, 48, of Lodi pleaded guilty Wednesday of trying to smuggle $28,000 in cash to Pakistan three years ago rather than face a retrial that was set to begin Monday. Prosecutors agreed to drop charges that he lied to the FBI and to recommend he serve no more jail time after spending nearly a year in custody. “This outcome was not, of course, the one most desired by the government,” U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott said. “However, what is for certain is that our region is safer today than it was one year ago.” Hayat likely would have faced only a few additional months behind bars if convicted of the two lying charges, Scott said. Hayat smiled as he left the federal courthouse, but would not comment. “He’s happy. It’s over. Obviously he wants to move on with his life at this point,” said defense lawyer Johnny Griffin III. “From day one we’ve maintained that Umer Hayat is not a terrorist, he had no involvement with terrorist related conduct or activities.”

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Last year, the indictments in this case were announced with great fanfare and the claim that a terrorist cell had been uncovered in the Central Valley.  It was difficult to believe — an ice cream truck driver and a fruit packer as terrorists?  As it turns out, there was more bluster than evidence.  But lives were ruined and the Muslim community in Lodi is terrified.  Will you feel safer tonight?