The terrorist you've never heard of

Un-effing-believable!

This is our government, Folks!

They should all be hung!

The terrorist you've never heard of:

Unlike alleged al-Qaida terrorist Jose Padilla, right-wing 'dirty bomber' Demetrius Crocker was investigated and prosecuted the old-fashioned constitutional way.
By Alex Koppelman

Dec. 18, 2006 'Salon' --- - In a Miami courtroom on Monday morning, defense lawyers for Jose Padilla, the American citizen accused of conspiring with al-Qaida, will argue what could be a landmark motion. Padilla's defense attorneys are asking the presiding judge to dismiss the case on the grounds of 'outrageous government conduct.' The abuse Padilla has endured while in custody, they contend, has so scarred him that he can no longer even discuss the case against him. They believe he has been rendered incompetent to stand trial.

The logic of the federal government's response to the defense motion was stunningly cold. The U.S. Attorney's office agrees that Padilla needs his competency evaluated. We didn't torture him, argue the representatives of the U.S. government, but if we did, and it made him crazy -- well, then, no claims he makes about said torture can be trusted. He is, after all, mentally incompetent.

Jonathan Turley, a professor of law at George Washington University who specializes in constitutional criminal procedure, calls this argument 'bizarre.'

'It would create a rather perverse incentive,' marvels Turley. 'As long as the government can force someone into mental incompetency they cannot face a motion for incompetency in court.'

'It would seem,' concludes Turley, with great understatement, 'to invite abuse.'