fordman,

here's what bothers me.... "Authorities have detained at least 44 other material witnesses in probes following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, according to an investigation by The Washington Post. " (http://www.wired.com/news/conflict/0,2100,58326,00.html)

the article also says, "The designation [material witness] allows authorities to hold him indefinitely [THAT MEANS FOREVER!!] without charging him with a crime"

regardless of anyone's guilt or innocence this is unacceptable. they did this for a while in europe, it was called the german gestapo. bush's "patriot act" is a veiled attempt at fascism.

and inline with Total Eclipse's idea of a coerced confession, TWO other charges were dropped in exchange for the plea. one was "conspiracy to levy war against the USA"; this carries the death penalty. maybe the guy didn't want to die.