Zazi Admits Ties to Terrorism during Probe

Colorado Terror Suspect Downplays Involvement in Any Plot; Prosecutors Looking at Possible Charges

(CBS/AP)  CBS News has learned that Najibullah Zazi, a man identified by law enforcement as having a possible link to al Qaeda, has provided a partial confession to investigators admitting to ties to terrorism, but downplaying his involvement in any terrorist plot.

Prosecutors are said to be exploring the charges that could be brought against Zazi, including material support to terrorism. A conviction could mean up to 15 years in jail, reports CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian.

According to one source who gets high level intelligence briefings, law enforcement has record of a number of conversations between Zazi and a known al Queda operative in Pakistan. During the conversations the operative tells Zazi what to say if stopped by police, CBS News has learned.

In the conversations there also is a reference to a "wedding" which U.S. law enforcement believes is a code word for an attack, finding no evidence of a real planned wedding.

According to source, law enforcement felt the trip to New York was sudden and Zazi told at least one person not to tell anyone he was going.
The source also said the formula for the explosive TATP was found in his computer when they seized his car.

FBI agents will question Zazi's father, a spokeswoman for the defense team said earlier Friday.

The FBI didn't say why it wanted to talk to Mohammed Zazi, but he will cooperate, said the spokeswoman, Wendy Aiello. She said the father would be questioned later Friday.

FBI spokeswoman Kathy Wright said she couldn't comment.

Zazi's son, Najibullah Zazi, was being questioned for a third day Friday. Aeillo said the fact that agents want to speak to the father doesn't signal that they are done questioning the son.

Najibullah Zazi has already undergone hours of questioning this week, and his apartment and his uncle and aunt's home in suburban Denver have been searched.

Najibullah Zazi hasn't been arrested, and his attorney, Arthur Folsom, says he doesn't expect him to be.

An official told the Associated Press that agents have been monitoring Najibullah Zazi and four others in Colorado as part of a terrorism investigation. It wasn't immediately known whether Mohammed Zazi was one of the four.

Folsom said his client has never met with al Qaeda operatives and isn't involved in terrorism.

"He's simply somebody who was in the wrong place at the wrong time," Folsom said Thursday.

Folsom told The Denver Post the agents aren't repeating questions to Zazi but are asking different things.

"They are going through things - the best I can describe it is chronologically. Covering all the bases," Folsum said.

Najibullah Zazi is a driver for an airport shuttle service in Denver. Authorities say he rented a car and drove from Denver to New York, crossing into Manhattan the day before the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

He was stopped in what was described as a routine stop at the George Washington Bridge before he was allowed to go free.

A relative said Zazi drove because he wanted to see the American countryside. Zazi said he went to New York to resolve some issues with a coffee cart he owns in Manhattan, but officials suspected that something more sinister might have been in the works.

FBI agents and police officers with search warrants seeking bomb materials searched three apartments and questioned residents in the neighborhood in Queens where he was staying.

A joint FBI-New York Police Department task force feared Zazi may be involved in a potential plot involving hydrogen peroxide-based explosives like those cited in an intelligence warning issued Monday, said two other law enforcement officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the investigation.

Folsom said Zazi, 24, was born in Afghanistan in 1985, moved to Pakistan at age 7 and emigrated to the United States in 1999. Zazi's aunt had said earlier that he was born in Pakistan and grew up in Queens, New York City.

Folsom said Zazi has returned to Pakistan four times in recent years: in 2004 because his grandfather was sick and dying, in 2006 to get married, and in 2007 and 2008 to visit his wife.

[Aldymac]

one thing the liberals all have in common, they think because Obama is prez there won't be any more attacks. Is that because he would rather pay them off than fight them?
Obama reminds me of the prez who thought it was better to pay the Barbery pirates off when our nation was young.
Bush reminds me of the prez who fought them off.

[credibility2]

I'm sure at some point this terrorist will claim he was tortured to make the confession. Wonder what time high tea will be served to have a meaningful conversation with this enemy of our people on our soil. Why aren't the liberal kumbaya's coming out against this terrorist? Perhaps it would be because they'd have to admit that terrorism is still an ever-present danger?

[eightsigma]

I'm a liberal against this terrorist. And there's a simple answer to claims of torture. OVERSIGHT. It's what the previous administration threw out the window. I have nothing against aggressive tactics against terrorists as long as there is oversight.

[Aldymac]

tmittelstaed, women with a dead fetus in their womb become very sick and will die, and I know of no woman who knows her baby is dead who will not get an abortion. The body will abort on its own, I know that to be a fact because my wife had that happen to her. We had an abortion to save her life, when I asked the doctor how many times he had to perform an abortion to save the mothers life, he said; "in over twenty years as a doctor, this is the first time". Abortions are performed today soley for the purpose of making money and keeping the dream alive for the democratic party. You need to get your lies straight before you post them.
As for those who let their family members suffer like they do, the reason they do it is because they have more pride in their "faith" then they have in doing what Jesus said, he told them "not" to "forsake the physician", their pride doesn't allow them to see that.
But, you are just like those who are blinded by their faith in their pride, you are blinded by your "faith" in the "democratic party", and your "pride" won't let you see the lies they process through your pride in being one of them.
BTW, I'm not a democrat.

[vic1090]

the whole idea is to collect information, that is accurate, correct and timely. the idea of torture by pulling nails, water drop on your forehead, and similair techniques. I cannot understand collecting information through these techniques and expect to be more than the actors dispensing torture and their individual enjoyment in torture. this does not serve the purpose of collecting information. Experts on the subject all seem to state that bribery, promoting grandiosity, witness protection always produces quality and not torture.

[searingtruth]

Oh sure.

I wonder how many times they waterboarded him, rammed his head into the wall, and threatened to rape and murder his family before he fessed up.

Sheesh.

The new fascist America.

Brought to you by the sniveling and traitorous Republican and Democratic parties.
ST


"I writhed in anguish for years. Always knowing pain was coming, but never knowing what I should attempt to say next, or how I should appear so that my American torturers would believe me.

The problem was that I was innocent."
SearingTruth

A Future of the Brave

[eightsigma]

As you know, I agree with much of your thinking. Sadly, this is well below your standards.

[ToolMangler1]

by eightsigma September 19, 2009 10:08 AM EDT
"As you know, I agree with much of your thinking. Sadly, this is well below your standards"



Sadly, I agree with you on 'STs' comment

[stuart-johns]

One could understand a person who lives in a closed society becoming a terrorist if that is all he/she knew from birth. We could understand their disregard for human life if all they were ever taught was that they were a superior race. And perhaps that was how most of the terrorism movement started.

But today they are anything but in a closed society. With the advantage of the internet, they know more about us than we do about them. And still, this sharing of cultures has no effect upon them at all it seems.

So my question is. What makes someone so out of touch with reality, so insensitive to the value of life? How is it that some people buy into this while the majority of people do not?

[tmittelstaed]

I would ask why your typical neoconservative is so insensitive to the value of the mother's life who has a dead fetus in her womb, but her body won't abort it - and the only way she will live is if she gets an abortion. Many of those neocons are so anti-abortion that they wouldn't even allow abortion if the mothers life depended on it.
And what about those neocons who allow their children to die from easily treatable illnesses because they believe in faith healing and won't take the kid to the doctor even when they are on death's door.
When you have the answer for those fine, upstanding RepubliCONs you will have your answer for the wannabe terrorists.

[reveal5]

Good job, Obama administration. Well done...Hurrah!

[mycall47]

I'm confused. Reveal5 are you being sarcastic and blaming the current administration for this terrorist in our midst or are you being sincere that law enforcement has uncovered it?

[jgg00009]

I may be mistaken, but I think he's officially eligible for a Bermuda vacation

[dwilson59]

"A conviction could mean up to 20 years in jail, reports CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian."

Lets say no deal and just Fry Him

[AOCGUY]

Fry him for what? Punishment should fit the crime, nothing I read would indicate he committed any capitol offense. Those that wish to strip legal rights and protections from others need to rethink there motivations. Should we embark upon that slippery slope what protects you and I from government using those same tactics against us?

[dwilson59]

I say we let him fry

[jgg00009]

thank you Patriot Act

[mav547166]

He admitted it after they waterboarded him.

[dwilson59]

Good now can we flip the Switch while he is still wet.

[writer10]

go ahead and make light of/or defend him mav547166...you don't live in Colo and you don't care as long as he's not in 'your' neck of the woods...you make me sick with your sympathy for terrorists...jgg00009, Thank you...we work w/ the Patriot Act everyday in my job..thanks, really.