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Thank you, Sir, may I have another?<\/div>\n

<\/p><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

There was a time when the news was abuzz about Guantanamo spy rings infiltrating the US military, with American Muslim servicemen being detained one after another being exhibited as proof that the US was taking strong steps towards confronting terrorism. The most celebrated case<\/a>, that of Chaplain James Yee, ended with revelations of investigative bungling and a dismissal of all charges (although with his military career effectively trashed, Yee later left the Army). The latest chapter<\/a> in this \u201cKeystone Kops\u201d comedy of errors<\/a> was that of Airman Ahmed al-Halabi<\/a>, who after facing the death penalty for allegedly passing on secrets to Syria, was unexpectedly (or expectedly<\/a> if you have been following the news) released<\/a> after serving a year in prison, and all 30 charges against him were dropped. al-Halabi only faced charges<\/a> of mailing himself unauthorized (but unclassified) documents, for which he was sentenced<\/a> to time already served. \u201cThe United States oversold, overcharged and overreacted in this case,\u201d said Maj. Kim London, al-Halabi\u2019s defense attorney. \u201cThe government is being trigger-happy,\u201d said attorney Gene Fidell, who worked successfully to get charges against al-Halabi\u2019s superior officer Chaplain Yee dropped. The prosecution \u2013 which was plagued by embarassing setbacks<\/a> during the lengthy proceedings, was unrepentant. \u201cHow many more USS Coles or Khobar Towers do we need before everyone gets the message?\u201d asked Lt. Col. Bryan Wheeler, the Air Force\u2019s lead prosecutor, arguing that even the non-classified documents in al-Halabi\u2019s possession could have resulted in \u201cdowned planes, dead Americans.\u201d Meanwhile, Airman al-Halabi, who was arrested while leaving<\/a> for Syria to get married, is looking forward to moving on and (unlike Chaplain Yee) still sees a place for himself in the US Armed Forces. \u201cI love this country. That\u2019s why I become a citizen. Moving here was a dream come true,\u201d Halabi said<\/a>. \u201cI would like to ask you to give me a second chance.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/i><\/p>\n

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.\n<\/p>\n

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