Screaming Penguin

"Ali al-Timimi" a "Washington area muslim cleric" was recently convicted for his views. This cleric voiced some ridiculous and crazy notions after the 9/11 terror attacks on the US in 2001 and thereafter. He supported the attacks and spoke out against America. He even went so far as to say he "hated" America (no, say it isnt so, oh my goodness gracious!). He then allegedly also convinced other people (not HIM and allegedly mind you) to join the Taliban in Afghanistan and fight the US (though some went to Pakistan to "train" (the old monkey bars thing) none ever went to Afghanistan or ever fought anyone). What was the the response from the great beacon of freedom and democracy known as the United States government, life in prison. U.S. Attorney Paul McNulty called the verdict a victory in the war on terrorism. In a written statement, he called al-Timimi "a kingpin of hate against America." "He not only wanted Americans to die, he recruited others to his cause at a time when our country was mourning the loss of more than 3,000 people who were murdered in a heinous act of terrorism," McNulty said. His crime per the US Attorney there is that he "wanted" Americans to die (well that and he expressed this want right after we were all mourning something he had nothing at all to do with, his timing is apparently important somehow, although exactly how eludes me). Don't get me wrong here, I think this "al-Timimi" guy is completely guilty of being a jackass, a religious zealot nutcase and that he certainly did say he hates the US. However, since when are these things illegal and since when does it get you life in prison under the Constitution of the United States? The guy hates America so off to jail with him? I mean if he actually DID anything terroristic then convict him of such, but to convict him as a terrorist when he simply expressed his views (however stupid and offensive) is itself terrifying (I have not researched all the details of the case but the few articles I have read do not indicate him actually DOING anything to anyone, just speech). [Update: I havent found the exact documentation on what he was "convicted" of other than blurbs such as "Al-Timimi was convicted of charges including soliciting others to levy war against the United States and inducing others to use firearms in violation of federal law." I am not sure exactly what laws these refer to as I havent seen the court rulings and cant then go look up the laws. His crimes seem to be "solciting" and "inducing" in nature. There are laws against specific terroristic threats and those are valid, IMHO, but from what I can obtain it *appears* this guy was basically just saying America is the great Satan and enemy of Islam and that it should be stopped, general religious bullshit, and not specifically we should kill X in this manner. And even if he did get specific there has to be some reasonable judgement that he meant it and was intending to do it before you convict him? (People say I am going to kill you, I hate X, etc, all the time?)] I must give the government a little credit though, at least this guy HAD a trial. PEOPLE, PAY ATTENTION HERE, FREE SPEECH MEANS PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE TO SAY THINGS YOU DO NOT AGREE WITH, THINGS THAT MAY EVEN OFFEND YOU, IT DOES NOT MEAN SIMPLY PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE TO SAY THINGS THAT ARE POPULAR AND DO NOT OFFEND. This incident, depending on exactly what this defendant actually DID (note, not SAID but DID) along with many others (US citizens whisked away without trials at all, extraordinary rendition, secret courts, torture as an interrogation technique, paying the press to spin news, invading nations without just cause, et al) will mark this administration in history. It is a very sad time for the United States of America and for the world when the "great liberators" dont understand liberty or freedom.   Muslim cleric convicted