Quantum Windbag
Gold Member
- May 9, 2010
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Thought crimes have officially come to the US
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/o...ion&adxnnlx=1335110418-Xd BxzgseT5EyZIqiOmC5g
The governments case against Mr. Mehanna, however, did not rest on proving that his translations were done in coordination with Al Qaeda. Citing no explicit coordination with or direction by a foreign terrorist organization, the governments case rested primarily on Mr. Mehannas intent in saying the things he said his political and religious thoughts, feelings and viewpoints. The prosecutions strategy, a far cry from Justice Robertss statement that independent advocacy of a terror groups ideology, aims or methods is not a crime, produced many ominous ideas. For example, in his opening statement to the jury one prosecutor suggested that its not illegal to watch something on the television. It is illegal, however, to watch something in order to cultivate your desire, your ideology. In other words, viewing perfectly legal material can become a crime with nothing other than a change of heart. When it comes to prosecuting speech as support for terrorism, its the thought that counts.
That is all troubling enough, but it gets worse. Not only has the government prosecuted a citizen for independent advocacy of a terror group, but it has prosecuted a citizen who actively argued against much of what most Americans mean when they talk about terrorism.
On a Web site that the government made central to the conspiracy charge, Mr. Mehanna angrily contested the common jihadi argument that American civilians are legitimate targets because they democratically endorse their governments wars and pay taxes that support these wars.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/o...ion&adxnnlx=1335110418-Xd BxzgseT5EyZIqiOmC5g