At the DOJ's well-publicized (three-city) news conference, an FBI official said the activities of The (Miami) Seven were "more aspirational than operational," by which I think he was trying to explain that The Seven conspired to do bad things, but never actually got around to doing them.
So, as this story unfolds, it might be a good idea to remember that since 9/11 the Justice Department has developed this habit of summoning every reporter on the planet to hear and report dire charges that somehow never quite find their way to court.
Jose Padilla is, of course, the poster-boy for this kind of legal sleight of hand. When his arrest was announced - at another well-attended press conference - the DOJ told us this American citizen planned to blow up buildings and bridges with a "dirty bomb." But when he was finally charged - after three years in largely incommunicado military detention - the "dirty bomb" charge was nowhere to be found.
Padilla is not alone; this kind of pre-trial hype has become something of a pattern at the Justice Department...
article by William Fisher
~Lifetime careers in law enforcement are made from investigations and indictments like this. It only takes one big one.
You ever wonder how many DOJ officers and clerks the Miami Seven were/are keeping busy? How much this investigation cost? Do you think the Miami Seven will be on any of their Christmas-card lists? Does the DOJ issue medals or bonuses? Letters of commendation? Audiences with the President?
A google advanced news search today for "homegrown terrorists terrorism" (without the words canada canadian) links to 1,400 news stories.
The same advanced news search: "homegrown terrorists or terrorism" without the words canada canadian muslim muslims islamists islamism al qaeda links to 117 news stories.
Today Google has collected 45 stories that mention the Miami Seven's Christian connection.
[i.e. a google advanced news search for homegrown+christian with at least "terrorist or terrorism" without the words "canada canadian" )
Is 'muslim' the new gay?
Posted by Stubbornson at June 25, 2006 11:44 AM