Twenty years?

AP: Jewish Defense League Member Sentenced---

LOS ANGELES - A Jewish Defense League member was sentenced Thursday to 20 years in prison for his role in a plot to bomb a mosque and a Lebanese-American congressman's office.

During the hearing, Earl Krugel, 62, apologized and said he was a changed man.

But U.S. District Judge Ronald S.W. Lew described Krugel's actions as "promoting hatred in the most vile way" and sentenced him to the maximum under Krugel's plea agreement. Lew said Krugel had failed a polygraph test five times during the investigation.

"You are not that changed a person. You have more to give," the judge said.

Krugel pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to violate the civil rights of worshippers at Culver City's King Fahd Mosque and one count of carrying an explosive device in connection with a conspiracy to impede or injure Republican U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa.

I like Congressman Issa, but 20 years is ridiculous. For plotting to bomb a mosque and an office? Jihad Johnny got 20 for committing treason by fighting against the United States with the Taliban. He probably killed American soldiers or conspired to do so and all he got was 20.

How is bombing a mosque violating the civil rights of anyone? Does the fact that a building is gone mean that someone cannot pray any longer? If that's true, then the civil rights of all the Catholics in New Orleans have been violated---by Hurricane Katrina.

And really, Judge Lew is wrong "that Krugel's actions as 'promot[ed] hatred in the most vile way.'" Promoting hatred in the most vile way is what the cowardly terrorists of 9/11 did. Krugel's attack never happened.