Uppity Wisconsin

The comments and e-mails of right-wing readers are often revealing of the authoritarian mind and its views on government and liberty generally.

In response to the piece "Jose Padilla and America’s Descent into Fascism," one reader concludes that calling for the U.S. government’s observance of Constitutional protections of American citizens (Padilla in this instance) and recognition of the Geneva Convention's codification of human rights is to be equated with an endorsement of Padilla’s ideology (whatever that may be) and my sentiment that Padilla is some kind of freedom fighter.

"I'm really happy your 'freedom fighter' Jose Padilla is gonna rot in prison for the rest of his miserable life," writes one reader.

I have no interest in Padilla’s ideology, but an abiding interest in his rights.

American FascismFind a friendly forum in Miami and secure a jury with lamebrains willing to believe the government's ever-changing story on Padilla (the latest was conspiracy, the catch-all charge used when the government is forced away from specific criminal charges), and you get a guilty-by-association verdict that purportedly justifies trashing the Constitution and politically benefits Bush in the short-term, while driving this man insane after torturing him for some three years.

No mention or material evidence presented during trial of a plot to launch a dirty bomb, the rationale by which Bush declared that this American was an enemy combatant with no rights under the Constitution or Geneva Convention.

Just the "conspiracy" charges, and all the prosecution had to do is convince a jury in Miami that because he is a converted Muslim who visited Afghanistan, and touched a pamphlet, he is per force part of a conspiracy. It's ludicrous, though I thought even this jury would wake up.

Different verdicts would likely have come in NY, LA, SF, Chi, or Madison, or anywhere in New England.

This will end up ultimately in the SC (maybe Scalia will vote to overturn), but by then Bush will be out.

Update: Padilla Guilty on All Conspiracy Counts

Update: Verdict Reached in Padilla
Case; to be read at 1:00 Central.[- with thanks to the University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Library reference department -]

Warren Richey’s three-part series in the Christian Science Monitor shines a light on the tyranny and inhumanity of the Bush regime—functioning with the passive compliance and active participation of assorted generals, admirals, prison guards, flacks, hacks and flunkies and one U.S. District Judge, Marcia G. Cooke.

Reading Richey’s work is an experience, an endurance exercise in revulsion and anger at all—and that ought to include us—who let this obscenity occur in our country, in our names.

Links to the series:

US terror interrogation went too far, experts say; Reports find that Jose Padilla's solitary confinement led to mental problems.

Investigators broke Padilla with intense isolation; Despite warnings, officials used 43 months of severe isolation to force Jose Padilla to tell all he knew about Al Qaeda.

Beyond Padilla terror case, huge legal issues; His detention and interrogation in the US raises basic constitutional questions.

Editorial - A verdict on Padilla – and the USA; Monitor series reveals the damage done to a citizen's rights and thus the US ability to wage this war.