There's no inconsistency between the two stories. Mourad claims that he was sent to Afghanistan by his brother without ever being told that he was being sent to an Al Qaeda training camp. Now the brother has been convicted of a terrorist plot, which only backs up Mourad's version of events.

Of course Mourad might be lying, but yes, I think there's reasonable doubt that the man would ever have become a terrorist. And I have a big problem with the idea that people can be put into a maximum security prison for years, just because some faceless bureaucrat thinks it's likely that they'll commit a crime at some point in the future.

People should be given the opportunity to make their own moral choices before we pass judgement on them for those choices. And yes, our society will be more dangerous as a result. But some principles are too important to be sacrificed, even to improve our safety.

Mat,

I disagree with you. He was already following in the Family business. He went through the training, he didn't just show up and leave. One of the things that the 'Detainee's' are told to do is create public sympathy. He's doing that well. I read his piece and found it extremely hard to swallow, especially knowing his background and knowing his family's involvment in overt acts of violence.

He is being put on trial in France, I hope they get that one right.

"Walks Like A duck." "Quacks like duck." any questions?

"People should be given the opportunity to make their own moral choices before we pass judgement on them for those choices. And yes, our society will be more dangerous as a result. But some principles are too important to be sacrificed, even to improve our safety."

Mat, suppose your neighbor has publicly said that he wants to kill you, that he considers you to be evil and has a religious duty to wage war against you. He has blown up your car and your garage and one of his kids detonated himself in the presence of two of your kids (killing all). Now that neighbor is coming up your front walk armed with an AR-47 and grenades. Just what are you going to do?

According to your words of wisdom, because the neighbor hasn’t actually killed you yet, he is “free” to attempt (and possibly succeed) murdering you. If you do not see the assininity of that mindset, then you will never understand why the majority of Americans do not want your ideological camp in the majority control of our government.

"Just what are you going to do?"

Er, call the cops, perhaps? I mean, what with him having carried out about a dozen or so separate crimes in that list of yours, I think I've got a reasonable case to put him away.

My objection is to putting people in jail for a crime they might commit in the future, but so far haven't. And I'm not even that fundamentalist about this little rule; it's reasonable to have police on hand watching a neo-nazi demonstration, for example, even if no-one participating commits a crime. I'm just saying that jail for years, with no access to lawyers and no appeal, is at least one step too far.

In this case, Mourad is up-front about the fact that he *has* done something wrong: attending an Al Qaeda training camp. He should be prosecuted for what he has done. He should not be punished for something he hasn't.

Fine, then he should be locked up for a million years for attending a terrorist training camp.

Mat: WE are the cops. The US. Us. We're the cops.

Mat,

I appreciate the fact that while you do not agree with the conclusion, you pose your concerns and disagreement in a reasonable and respectful manner. That's more rare than I would like.

Hey Mat,

I got a Bridge for Sale, How bout some Beach Front Property in Kansas??

Sheesh!!