He got out of the truck before it reached the embassy. He knew the driver was delivering a lethal payload. Afterwards he stayed behind to help the group avoid detection. Butler charged that El Hage was a key member of the al Qaeda terrorist organization led by bin Laden, establishing businesses to help the organization and passing on messages to group members as he traveled under cover as a businessman. Odeh, he said, also was trained in explosives by al Qaeda and sent to Kenya to set up a fishing business to finance the organization's work there.
Nobody is on trial for their religion.
Butler said that bin Laden formed al Qaeda in the 1980s to help Muslims fight the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Also scheduled to testify during the trial will be law enforcement officials who responded to the bombings, as well as eyewitnesses and victims. Another defendant in the case, Ali Mohamed, pleaded guilty last year. Although his plea agreement has remained sealed, he is also expected to testify. In their opening statements, attorneys for El Hage, Odeh, and Mohamed acknowledged the horror of the tragedy and its likely effects on the jury.