Anger Over Terror Trial Verdict: Join the Live Chat
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Breaking news tonight. A shocking end to a landmark terror trial. An al Qaeda terrorist, who took part in the bombings of two U.S. embassies which killed 224 people, is found guilty of just one count - innocent of the murders of 224 people who died in the bombings. Plus, tonight's other headlines.
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Landmark terror trial ends in not-guilty verdict on all but one count
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/CRIME/11/17/ny.terror.trial/t1larg.ghailani.sketch.jpg caption="Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani was convicted of one charge in connection with 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya, Tanzania." width=300 height=169]
Deborah Feyerick
CNN
(CNN) - Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani was acquitted Wednesday of all but one count of conspiracy-related charges, in a landmark civilian trial involving the first Guantanamo detainee to be tried in civilian court.
Ghailani was convicted by a federal jury on a charge of conspiracy to destroy buildings and U.S. property, in connection with his role in the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.
The trial had been widely considered a testing ground for the Obama administration, which has said that it could try some terrorism suspects outside military tribunals and in civilian courts.
The U.S. Justice Department responded to the verdict in a written statement, saying, "We respect the jury's verdict and are pleased that Ahmed Ghailani now faces a minimum of 20 years in prison and a potential life sentence for his role in the embassy bombings."
Ghailani faced charges of conspiracy and murder in the 1998 attacks on U.S. embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The bombings, for which al Qaeda claimed responsibility, killed 224 people, including a dozen Americans, and wounded thousands of others.
Could Palin beat Obama?
Alexander Mooney
CNN Ticker Producer
(CNN) – In a yet to be aired interview, Sarah Palin said she believes it would be possible for her to beat President Obama if she ran for President.
During an interview for an upcoming Barbara Walters special, Palin said "I believe so," when Walters asked Palin "If you ran for president, could you beat Barack Obama?"
"I'm looking at the lay of the land now, and ... trying to figure that out, if it's a good thing for the country, for the discourse, for my family, if it's a good thing," Palin said.
Palin appears to be inching the ball ever slightly toward acknowledging she is seriously thinking about running for president next year.
In a lengthy interview for a profile in this weekend's New York Times magazine, the former Alaska governor flatly said she is considering launching a White House bid and is currently in discussions about the possibility with her family and trusted allies.
"I'm engaged in the internal deliberations candidly, and having that discussion with my family, because my family is the most important consideration here," she said in the interview with journalist Robert Draper, now posted on the New York Times Web site.
Palin – who currently operates with only a handful aides, most of whom have little experience running a national campaign – also said she might need to bring more strategists into her fold to help communicate her record.
Beat 360° 11/17/10
Ready for today's Beat 360°? Everyday we post a picture you provide the caption and our staff will join in too. Tune in tonight at 10pm to see if you are our favorite! Here is the 'Beat 360°' pic:
Prince William and Kate Middleton arrive to pose for photographs in the State Apartments of St. James Palace on November 16, 2010 in London, England. (Photo credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
Have fun with it. We're looking forward to your captions! Make sure to include your name, city, state (or country) so we can post your comment.
Update: Beat 360° Winners:
Staff
Sam Meyer
"Kate Middleton examines the Crown Jewels."
Viewer
Brandon K., Millbury, MA
"Kate: Is this stone a Princess cut?"
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Letters to the President: #667 'A royal intrigue'
Tom Foreman | BIO
AC360° Correspondent
Reporter's Note: “Alack,” said the prince, “shall we get married?”
“Surely,” said Kate, “but why have you tarried?”
And I’m sure there is the remainder of a limerick to be found, but I don’t have the time.
Here is my daily letter to the president.
Dear Mr. President,
So now, as if you don’t have enough to worry about, we have a royal wedding looming across the pond! I’m happy for Prince William and his fiancée, Kate, but when I heard the announcement of their engagement I thought this is just too much. Now I’ll have to get a new tux for all the parties, find a hotel room, (Unless they invite us to stay at the palace. What kind of odds would you put on that?) book an airplane, prepare myself mentally for the big pat down…oh, and let’s not forget the gift!
How would you feel about pitching in together to get them some of Ye Olde Tupperware? Let me know on that.
I’m glad we don’t have royalty here. I realize that may seem harsh, especially to all the royal watchers who just love, love, love the antics of the titled set. But I think the idea that anyone, by sheer dint of birth, deserves some sort of special interest is silly.
FULL POST
Few clues in fatal Beverly Hills attack on Hollywood publicist
Alan Duke
CNN
Los Angeles, California (CNN) - Beverly Hills detectives are scanning Ronni Chasen's computers and phone logs for leads to the person who gunned the publicist down early Tuesday after a Hollywood movie premiere.
Chasen's shooting death, in the middle of a posh Sunset Boulevard residential area, stunned the publicists and celebrities who worked with the 64-year-old public relations veteran.
With few clues about motive and no suspect, the homicide investigation is "wide open," Beverly Hills Police Sgt. Lincoln Hoshino said.
The attack happened just minutes after Chasen left a star-studded party celebrating the premiere of the movie "Burlesque," police said.
Heroes nominator: 'She speaks from her heart about her work and makes you want to get involved too.'
Program Note: CNN Heroes received more than ten thousand nominations from 100 countries.. A Blue Ribbon Panel selected the Top 10 CNN Heroes for the year. Voting for the CNN Hero of the Year continues through November 18th (6am ET) at CNNHeroes.com
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Lory Goldberg
Nominated Guadalupe Arizpe De La Vega | HER STORY
I have been a Southwest Airline flight attendant for 17 years. We have always been encouraged to give back to our community. I had met Guadalupe on several occasions and always knew there was something special about her. I became interested in Guadalupe Arizpe De La Vega’s work after reading an article in the El Paso Times about her hospital celebrating its 100,000th birth and that her work centered on her love of children and the empowerment of women in Mexico. Being a fan of CNN Heroes, I felt there was no one more deserving of this award.
When I received the call that Guadalupe was picked as a CNN Hero it was unbelievable! Since the announcement was made that she was picked to be in the “Top 10,” I have watched with amazement as my small act has taken on a life of it’s own and brought attention and help to her nursing school and hospital. I have always heard that one person can make a difference - as in Guadalupe’s case - but I never dreamed it would be me.
As I spend time with Guadalupe I see she is an angel on Earth. She speaks from her heart about her work and makes you want to get involved, too. For the past 30 years her life has been dedicated to the health and welfare of those less fortunate from El Paso and Ciudad Juarez. Her hospital does not turn anyone away. Even with the violence in Ciudad Juarez she still travels there 5 days a week.
Thank you CNN, for recognizing that everyday people like Guadalupe can change the world!
VOTE FOR THE CNN HERO OF THE YEAR
WATCH CNN HEROES: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE
A Global Celebration: Thanksgiving Night at 8p ET
CNN Poll: Only one-third favor tax cut extension for wealthy
CNN Political Unit
Washington (CNN) – Only a third of all Americans think Bush-era tax cuts should be extended for families regardless of how much money they make, according to a new national poll.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Wednesday also indicates a vast majority of the public is in favor of allowing openly gay people to serve in the U.S. military. Both issues are high on the agenda for federal lawmakers who have returned to the nation's capitol this week for the lame duck session of Congress.
Forty-nine percent of people questioned in the poll say the tax cuts should be extended for families making less than $250,000 a year, with another 15 percent saying the cuts should not be extended for anyone. That leaves 35 percent who favor an extension of the tax cuts for all Americans regardless of how much money they make.
TSA chief likely to face lawmakers' questions on pat-downs, body scans
CNN Wire Staff
Washington (CNN) - The head of the Transportation Security Administration will likely get a pat-down on air-travel security measures as he testifies before Congress on Wednesday morning.
The appearance by John Pistole was scheduled before controversy broke out over the past week about the agency's full body scans and pat-downs. But protest movements about the searches make such questioning likely when Pistole testifies about his agency's security efforts before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.
Hero pilot Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger on Tuesday joined the opposition to heightened airport security procedures, which critics have called invasive.
Sullenberger, who landed a crippled US Airways jet on the Hudson River last year, said the use of full-body pat-downs and advanced imaging scanners for airline personnel "just isn't an efficient use of our resources."
Federal transport authorities say the machines are a safe and necessary security precaution, especially following recent airline terrorism attempts.
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