US law experts question timing of Qaeda treason charge

[Judi Lynn]

US law experts question timing of Qaeda treason charge
by Charlotte Raab
15 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The first treason charge against an American since the World War II era has puzzled some law experts who suspect that political motives were behind the move less than a month before congressional elections.

Adam Gadahn, 28, was charged with treason Wednesday for appearing in Al-Qaeda propaganda videos, putting him in a small club of less than 40 people who have been prosecuted for betraying the United States.

Two other Americans who have faced justice in the "war on terror" since the September 11, 2001 attacks, "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh and suspected Al-Qaeda operative Jose Padilla, were never charged with treason, which can carry the death penalty.

The Justice Department announcement of the federal grand jury indictment against Gadahn, who is believed to be hiding in Pakistan, came weeks before the November 7 election in which President George W. Bush's Republicans hope to keep control of Congress.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061013/ts_alt_afp/usattacksjusticeqaeda

[Eugene]

1. Gadahn is a nobody but the Bushies need a symbol.

A Tokyo Rose type figure helps them prop up their flimsy World War II
campaign theme. Also, now that al-Zarqawi is gone and forgotten,
the war needs a new demon to focus media attention on instead of the
fruitless hunt for bin Laden.

Adam Gadahn is just a low level translator, but the MSM relates to him.
He comes along at just the right time to be useful.

[saigon68]

2. This is KARL ROVE'S latest Brain Child-- Operation "stir up the sheep"

Get them angry at some nutty white guy with a beard and a diaper on his head

The United States Senate has been called "the greatest deliberative body in the world." It won't be that for long if Congressman John Cooksey of Monroe gets there.



Cooksey, an arch-conservative Republican, is planning to run against Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat nearing the end of her first term. Cooksey made news last week for some bone-headed comments about airport security and racial profiling in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"If I see someone comes in that's got a diaper on his head and a fan belt wrapped around the diaper on his head, that guy needs to be pulled over," Cooksey said during an interview with Louisiana Radio Network.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Can't believe this bastard is still around. Surely hope the voters will

bury him.

That was the ugliest attempt to insult strangers I've ever heard. He's a complete dumbshit who probably felt it showcased the very height of his creative powers to come up with that.

Someone that stupid should be nowhere near a responsible job. He's not competent.



half-wit

[liberal N proud]

3. A well publicized Treason trial just weeks before a crucial election?

Just in time to quell the voters fears that the republicans can't keep them safe.

[Kagemusha]

5. There's no hope of having a trial that soon.

More like a big press release, charges filed, money waved around, and nothing comes of it. Even if they caught the guy tomorrow, there'd be no trial in time, just a lot of PR.

But maybe that's enough for them.

[NOLADEM]

4. I'm shocked at the incenuation

NO WAY. Never would this administration play politics with National Security. It's just not in them.

:sarcasm:


Everything these pigs do is political.



That said, the charge may be appropriate, regardless of the timing.

[treestar]

7. How does it help them?

It reminds people that OBL is still unaccounted for and that terra is still active.