An Arab Joins al-Qaida - Is That a Surprise?

It is if he's an American:

An Arab-American college student was convicted Tuesday of joining al- Qaida and plotting to assassinate President Bush.

The federal jury rejected Ahmed Omar Abu Ali's claim that Saudi authorities whipped and tortured him to extract a false confession.

Abu Ali, a 24-year-old U.S. citizen born to a Jordanian father and raised in Falls Church, Va., could get life in prison on charges that included conspiracy to assassinate the president, conspiracy to hijack aircraft and providing support to al-Qaida.

The jury deliberated for 2 1/2 days. Abu Ali swallowed hard before the verdict was read but otherwise showed little emotion. He did not testify at his trial.

I'll never understand how anyone can live in this country and enjoy all that it has to offer, and then join an organization that wants to return all of us to the 14th century.