Moussaoui About To Die a Little Every Day, Maybe a Lot One Day

Following yesterday's verdict that his life be spared, Moussaoui is on his way to the same Colorado Supermax facility (the "Alcatraz of the Rockies") that houses his buddy, shoebomber Richard Reid.

Inmates - a volatile mix of terrorists, murderers, drug dealers, street-gang leaders and mafiosi - have their wrists cuffed behind their backs on the rare occasions when they get to leave their cells, and are always escorted by at least two guards.

About the only place for them to go is the small concrete-walled recreation yard, where they can run laps or use fixed equipment.

Cells feature a sabotage-proof bed, a desk and a stool of poured concrete and a shower, with a spout in the ceiling and a drain in the floor.

A 12-inch black-and-white television in each cell pipes in closed-circuit classes on anger management and parenting. Literacy and religious services are played via video feed.

The combination of living in a concrete box with minimal human contact and no hope of getting out takes an awesome toll on inmates.

Even among the toughest criminals, the prison is notorious. Latin King gang leader Luis Felipe, sentenced to serve life plus 45 years there on murder charges in 1997, shouted at the federal judge, "You're killing me. You have sentenced me to die a little each day."

It seems likely that in any other facility, where there were any regular contact among prisoners, Moussaoui would die completely, probably on his first day.

Keeping [Supermax] prisoners isolated is key to security, as contact between them is "just not safe," said Krista Rear, the facility's public information officer.

Hmm, yeah.  I still won't be shocked to wake up to the headline "Moussaoui Killed in Prison" one day soon.  Anyone like to take a square in the death pool?  Express your pick in number of days survived and be sure to specify manner/implement (shiv, poisoning, suicide, fatal "tune up" by guards, etc.), as this will be used to break any ties.

Elsewhere: Expose the Left has video of victims' families reacting to Moussaoui's sentencing.