The Council on American Islamic Relations immediately got out in front of the press and claimed they were “victims” being persecuted simply because they were Muslims, just “naïve kids” playing with “fireworks.” Leftist bloggers also came to their defense, and derided the authorities for seeing terrorists where there were none.

Today Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed, one of the two Egyptian students at the University of South Florida who were caught with pipe bombs near a South Carolina Navy base, has pleaded guilty and admitted that he produced videos intended to prepare terrorists to kill Americans: Former USF student admits to supporting terrorists.

Will we hear a single peep out of CAIR? An apology, perhaps, for immediately jumping to the defense of Islamic terrorists? No, I’m not holding my breath.

Tampa, Florida — Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed entered a plea agreement Friday.

In the court document, he admits to providing material to support terrorists. He also acknowledges that a YouTube video he produced was to be used in “preparation for or in carrying out the killing of employees of the United States,” including uniformed personnel.

Mohamed and Youssef Megahed were arrested August 4, 2007, in Goose Creek, South Carolina after a traffic stop. Authorities recovered a number of items from the car which constituted explosive materials.

Megahed remains in custody.

Mohamed faces a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and a term of supervised release.

(Hat tip: Doug Ross.)

UPDATE at 6/13/08 6:03:36 pm:

The video in which CAIR spokesliar Ahmed Bedier made his outrageous excuses has been removed from YouTube.