Army Private Abdo Faces New Charges

US Army PFC Naser Abdo has been indicted on additional charges related to his planned attack on Fort Hood a few months ago.  (His effort is one of 10 revealed planned or attempted attacks on the US military by those claiming or somehow motivated by their Islamic faith.)  He now faces a possible life sentence:

Pfc. Naser Jason Abdo was indicted on one count of trying to use a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. The other charges…were attempted murder of officers or employees of the United States, two counts of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a federal crime of violence, and two counts of possession of a destructive device in furtherance of a federal crime of violence.

Abdo requested, and was ultimately granted, conscientious objector status, saying his Islamic faith conflicted with his military duties.  He was subsequently charged with possessing child pornography, went AWOL, and was arrested outside Fort Hood after a gun dealer notified police of suspicious activities (including Abdo’s alleged purchase of a large quantity of gunpowder without knowing how to use it).

As previously noted, Michael Weinstein has remained largely silent on Abdo’s actions, despite his personal connection with Abdo prior to the attempted attack.  Weinstein has previously launched vitriolic tirades against others who have publicly associated their religion with the US military, and even seemed to claim Christianity was somehow to blame for the massacre at Fort Hood in 2009.

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