AT LEAST one of Osama bin Laden's associates has been turned and is helping the United States prosecute his organization, al Qaeda. That much is assured from the plea bargain Friday in U.S. District Court in New York by Ali Mohamed.
The native of Egypt and veteran of the U.S. Army told the court he had conspired with the Saudi millionaire defector, who is holed up in Afghanistan, to murder Americans in embassies and elsewhere and to attack the U.S. military in Somalia and Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. case against Osama bin Laden is changing from a much-repeated but unsubstantiated accusation into legal nuts and bolts that can hold up in court.
The current trial relates to the bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998. Its progress bolsters the credibility of the government pledge to hold accountable the bombers of the USS Cole in Aden.
Ali Mohamed pleaded guilty to five counts of conspiracy. He is one of 17 men indicted in the crimes, one of six in custody facing trial in this country. He is one of three charged with conspiracy, having been accused by the government of an intelligence role. Three are facing trial on substantive charges for committing the acts. Two are facing the death penalty.
In his statement to the court, Ali Mohamed admitted to helping move the bin Laden operation from Pakistan to Sudan, and training its members. If he is cooperating fully, he is providing the FBI with a valuable look inside the organization.
The trial is scheduled to start in January. In addition to the defendants held in this country, three are in custody abroad. Eight, including Mr. bin Laden, remain at large.
The Taliban government of Afghanistan continues to protect Mr. bin Laden rhetorically, and denies that he could have had a role in the Cole bombing. But the Taliban remains isolated, seeking greater recognition from the world. A credible renunciation of terrorism would help it achieve that.
Mr. bin Laden, the protected guest, is looking more like a hostage or bargaining chip. No longer is it unthinkable that he might yet appear for trial in this country.
The more of his associates who can be convinced to give evidence, as Ali Mohamed has done, the tighter the noose of evidence may close around Osama bin Laden.
