Guardsman convicted of trying to help al-Qaida

[Judi Lynn]

Friday, September 3, 2004

Guardsman convicted of trying to help al-Qaida

By MIKE BARBER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

FORT LEWIS -- In the culmination of a court-martial that drew international attention, Spc. Ryan G. Anderson of Lynnwood, a 27-year-old National Guardsman activated for duty in Iraq last fall, was found guilty last night of trying to help al-Qaida.

A panel of nine commissioned officers hearing the case before a military judge, Col. Debra Boudreau, deliberated nearly five hours before finding Anderson guilty on all five counts he faced. An Army spokesman said the accusations amounted to attempted treason.

The jury agreed with the prosecution that Anderson tried to provide federal undercover agents, who he believed were al-Qaida terrorists, with information about U.S. troop strengths, ways to defeat U.S. military vehicles and methods to kill fellow U.S. soldiers. The prosecution also said Anderson planned to desert to join al-Qaida.

No military information was ever passed to actual terrorists.
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/189241_anderson03.html