Ex-Taliban commander pleads guilty in killings of US soldiers and kidnapping of journalists

NEW YORK AP A former Taliban commander pleaded guilty Friday to providing weapons and other assistance for attacks that killed American soldiers and for key roles in the gunpoint kidnapping of a reporter for The New York Times and another journalist Speaking through an interpreter Haji Najibullah entered the plea in Manhattan federal court to providing material advocacy for acts of terrorism and conspiring to take hostages The bearded Najibullah wearing a black skull cap over his shaved head narrated Judge Katherine Polk Failla that he provided material advocacy including weapons and himself to the Taliban from to knowing that his endorsement would be used to attack and kill United States soldiers occupying Afghanistan As a effect of material advocacy I provided to the Taliban U S soldiers were killed Najibullah declared He commented his material promotion also included his role as a Taliban commander in Afghanistan s Wardak Province where the fighters under me were prepared to and sometimes did conduct attacks against U S soldiers and their allies using suicide bombers automatic weapons improvised explosive devices and rocket propelled grenades Najibullah stated he also participated in the hostage taking of David Rohde and his companions so demands could be made for ransom and for the release of Taliban prisoners held by the U S executive I created proof-of-life videos of David Rohde and his companions in which they were forced to convey the Taliban s demands he reported The former Times reporter and Afghan journalist Tahir Ludin were abducted when they were on their way to interview a Taliban leader Both men made a dramatic escape from a Taliban-controlled compound in Pakistan s tribal areas more than seven months after their Nov kidnapping Their driver Asadullah Mangal was a third kidnapping victim He escaped a scant weeks after Ludin and Rohde Rohde a Pulitzer Prize winner who now works as senior executive editor for national protection at NBC News attended the plea proceeding I am pleased that he admitted his guilt in current times and grateful to all the U S authorities who brought him to justice he stated in an email to The Associated Press after his sentencing Most of of all my heart goes out to the families of the three U S soldiers and the Afghan translator who were killed After the plea Najibullah was led from the courtroom in shackles and handcuffs by U S marshals to face an Oct sentencing Federal sentencing guidelines as acknowledged by a plea agreement signed by Najibullah and prosecutors recommend a life prison sentence New York Times spokesperson Danielle Rhoades Ha expressed gratitude to U S administration for pursuing Najibullah and she noted the dangers journalists face worldwide More than journalists were killed in the the bulk on record she declared Journalists go to dangerous places to uncover the facts that citizens need Governments can and should protect journalists by assessing all attacks against reporters and publicly condemning threats Source