Faisal Shahzad, also known as the Times Square Bomber has been sentenced to life in prison by Judge Mirian Cedarbaum.
Actually he received six life sentences, but that is the same because the judge made them run concurrently, which means Faisal could get parole. If the sentences were consecutive he might get parole on the three or four, but would still be held in prison for the other life sentences.
The blogosphere is none too kind with their comments on Shahzad. The comments range from “good riddance” to should have been stripped of his rights and tried.
Mediaite says some believe that Faisal should not have been read his Miranda rights and just taken as a terrorist. This is a sticking point for some who believed Shahzad should have been stripped of some of his due process rights as a citizen of the United States after being arrested for committing a terrorist act. New York Rep. Peter King, a person who is frequently outspoken on these matters, told Ben Smith he thought there was some luck involved this time around.
Atlas Shrugs is not too happy with the 6 sentences of life in prison to run concurrently. Life in prison for this devout and pious Muslim who attempted to detonate a 275 pound bomb on a Saturday night in Manhattan's Theater district, in Times Square teeming with humanity. He should have been executed. His six life sentences will run concurrently (Faisal was pleased with this saying, "I am happy with the deal") -- does this mean he is eligible for parole? And if so, when?
Faisal considers himself, in his own words, "a Muslim soldier."
Jahanzaib Haque of the Tribune Blogs says “Good riddance” and goes on. I don’t care if Shahzad, the self-proclaimed ‘Muslim soldier’ was a mere pawn in a larger conspiracy and therefore deserves some form of leniency. I also do not buy the argument that a man who travels to Fata to give HakimullahMehsuda brotherly hug was a ‘confused soul’ who spiralled down a path of extremism which had less to do with him and more to do with the anti-Muslim global climate and his own sense of alienation in a hostile country. Hogwash.
Jen Doll of The Village Voice says he definitely will have a lot of time to think about what he did in jail: Meanwhile, Judge Mirian Cedarbaum said, "You are capable of education, and I do hope you spend time in prison thinking about whether the Koran gives you the right to kill innocent people."
"I am happy with the deal that God has given me," said the 31-year-old Shahzad (reportedly smiling) after the sentence was handed down. Which is yet another thing he'll have a lot of time to think about while in jail.
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