A little late there, Moose

Just when we thought we wouldn't be hearing from Zacarias Moussaoui again for a good, long time, he's baaaaack!

Convicted terrorist Zacarias Moussaoui, declaring his surprise at having received a fair trial, asked a federal judge Monday to allow him to withdraw his guilty plea so he can be tried again. This time he won't lie on the witness stand, he said.

Well, that's big of him, I guess.

Judge Leonie M. Brinkema quickly turned down the request. She said federal law prevents a criminal defendant from withdrawing a guilty plea after sentencing. Moussaoui was given life in prison without parole Thursday.

"His motion is too late and must be denied on this basis alone," she said.

Ah, yes. The old "no takebacks" rule. It's there for a reason. Just because you don't like the outcome, you don't get to go back on your plea agreement.

Moussaoui, in a three-page affidavit filed in the U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va., said he was "extremely surprised" that he received a fair sentencing trial over the last two months and admitted that he lied when he testified he had been preparing to fly a fifth hijacked plane into the White House on Sept. 11, 2001.

I think it's safe to say that a lot of people were "extremely surprised" by the sentencing.

Read the whoile thing, which, on the bright side, includes an opinion from a law professor stating that this may just provide an opportunity to execute the son of a bitch.