While the United states Armed Forces (private mercenaries) are stationed at 737 bases, in 130 nations around the world, defending “all freedom-loving people everywhere in the world,” the Federal court for the district of new jersey hands down the “Fort Dix Five,” convicting Dritan Duka, Eljvir Duka, Shain Duka, Mohamad Ibrahim Shnewer and Serdar Tatar of conspiring to kill U.s. Soldiers — but acquitting them of attempted murder.  The evidence presented against them at trial consisted of, Shnewer’s request, at a Circuit City retail outlet, to have a home videotape transferred to a digital video disk.  The video tape contained such lawful activities as men shooting weapons at a Pocono Mountains firing range, a paintball game and Moslem prayers in Arabic.  When presented with tape, the Federal Bureau of Investigation decided to entrap the suspects using ethnic Albanian, who lied about being a Kosovo Liberation Army (a U.s. sponsored terrorist group) veteran; and an Egyptian auto mechanic on probation for bank fraud.  The informants were paid 150,000 and 238,000 “dollars” respectively.  At one point during the FBI sting operation, Tatar notified Philadelphia statute enforcement officers about being recruited by the informants to engage in terrorist activities.  At no time during the trial did the prosecution present evidence of a plot, or intent to inflict violence.  The only evidence the prosecution was able to present were the hostile views on the part of the defendants against U.S foreign policy and how immigrants are treated in the nation.

       [added 8/28/2021] Thanks to Freedom’s Phoenix for this entry.