|
« Old Bolshi Croaks |
Main
| Lose Big Tobacco Sponsors, Black Groups Urged »
Padilla and Al Qaeda in High-Rise Explosion Plot
June 01, 2004
The Smoking Gun has the de-classified federal report on enemy combatant Jose Padilla, based on interrogations of what SG calls the "American Terrorist" and other Al Qaeda operatives. Seems Padilla was plotting with Al Qaeda to blow up NYC apartment buildings by renting two adjacent apartments, sealing all the cracks, and filling them with piped-in natural gas. He was also, as previously reported, seeking to deploy uranium-coated explosives, or a "dirty bomb." Padilla downplays the connection with al Qaeda, as noted in a footnote to the report. Yeah, all those trips, meetings, training. Afghanistan, Pakistan. It was probably all about how to brew a good pot of mint tea. The time has come to press charges, while keeping Padilla in custody. Meanwhile, Padilla's legal challenge to the U.S.'s "enemy combatant" detention-without-charges policy is to be decided by the Supreme Court as soon as the end of June. Nice for a dirtbag like him he can challenge the President's powers in our land's highest court; and then have thousands of journalists and the ACLU rooting for his acquital if he does face trial. Posted by Matt Rosenberg at June 1, 2004 11:18 AM Trackback Pings TrackBack URL for this entry: Comments:
I think that the media and the ACLU sometimes lose sight of how dangerous a person may be, while trying to champion their rights. If you plan to act out terrorism, my view is that you should not be entitled to the rights of an average citizen. In fact, you should be treated as a war criminal, which would carry a greater degree of punishment if convicted. After all, through terrorism, are you not, in effect, declaring a war on some entity yourself? Also, when deemed a "serious threat to the state" you should not be allowed to bond out of incarceration until after you've been proven not-guilty. Don't try to counter with that "innocent until proven guilty" speech. We are not all given "equal rights under the law." As a Merchant Marine, I am governed by Admiralty Law, whereby you are guilty until proven innocent. So, why doesn't the ACLU fight to change the repercussions affecting a citizen in this situation? Not enough exposure I guess. Then again, we civilian sailors (as a group) usually don't complain about denial of our rights, we just don't break the law. Posted by: rross at June 3, 2004 09:18 AMPost a comment
|
|
| Site design by Mystic Sludge Design© | |