US reaction to Moussaoui's shock testimony

The dramatic testimony of Zacarias Moussaoui continues to dominate the US press. Yesterday Moussaoui, whose death penalty trial is drawing to a close, surprised the court by claiming involvement in the al-Qaida plot to fly a plane into the White House. The defendant did serious damage to his case, telling the court how he rejoiced in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people on September 11 and displaying his hatred of Americans, writes Tomi Ajayi.

Moussaoui's claim of involvement in 9/11 was a "jaw-dropping U-turn", says Newsday, which warily points out that, in contrast to past appearances, yesterday he was a model of lucidity and good behaviour: "Sometimes, his composure was eerie. When [the prosecuting attorney, Robert] Spencer asked if he had bought knives to cut the throats of crew members, Moussaoui shrugged, 'Possibly. If it is necessary.' Later, he said he was just 'teasing the American people' when he said in a court filing that he enjoyed hearing a stewardess who was about to die scream on a cockpit tape."

Many of the papers focus on the calm and unemotional manner in which the defendant praised the 9/11 attacks. The New York Times is not alone in noting how much Moussaoui "bolstered" the prosecution's case with his incriminating statements. The paper was surprised at his acknowledgement to the chief prosecutor of "the depth of his hatred of Americans before a jury that is to decide whether he lives or dies".

The familiar Moussaoui has disappeared, says the Washington Post (registration required): "In his place was a hardened terrorist operative who spoke calmly and methodically, looking straight at his questioners as he voiced his hatred for the nation that had put him on trial for his life."

There was speculation around Moussaoui's apparent desire to receive the death penalty. The Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank points out the defendant's ineffectiveness both as a witness and a hijacker, noting that: "Moussaoui was a gift to prosecutors. The justice department wants the death penalty; Moussaoui spoke like a man who wants martyrdom."

The Boston Globe (registration required) similarly questions Moussaoui's motives. "The changed testimony cast a new level of uncertainty over the official history of the worst terrorist attack in US history. By declaring so forthrightly that he knew even more about the 9/11 plot than he has previously admitted, Moussaoui yesterday may have signed his own death warrant, some observers of the case said. It is possible that dying is precisely what Moussaoui wants," it says.

Only the LA Times argues against Zacarias Moussaoui's execution. "The 19 hijackers are dead. But there is still Moussaoui. He knew. He helped. Shouldn't he die? No, he should not," it says.

"Would-be suicide jihadists want to die in their struggle against us in the deluded belief that God will reward their murderous cowardice. Once they are in our custody, they lose the power to achieve that goal. Capital punishment gives them the martyrdom they crave. Killing him would do nothing to stop future attacks or alleviate the loss of the past. That's the hard thing about the death penalty: The heart screams for retribution, but it is never enough. It is vengeance devoid of benefit."