The Jose Padilla Travesty

This case alone causes one to answer "yes" to the question: "Can it happen here?" It has been treated rarely on the front pages in the major newspapers and has been pretty much ignored by TV (no good pictures, I suppose). The NYT editorial page has been stronger than most in calling out the Bushies and this is a good example. This passion, often missing from even the NYT editorial page, shows through. This is a complete travesty.

At one point in the mental competency hearing, a prosecutor wanted to introduce what he said was a Qaeda manual instructing captured operatives to claim torture even if none had occurred. Judge Cooke refused, pointing out that there was no evidence that Mr. Padilla had ever heard of the manual, much less studied it. The government has yet to show evidence that Mr. Padilla was even a member of Al Qaeda.

The government’s arguments at the hearing sounded ridiculous and shameful. Prosecutors said Mr. Padilla always seemed fine to his jailers, but it was his jailers who did things like standing on his bare feet with boots so they could shackle him. The brig psychologist testified that he had spoken to Mr. Padilla only twice, once when he was first detained, and two years later — through a slit in his cell door.

When a psychologist testified for the defense that Mr. Padilla was “an anxiety-ridden, broken individual,” the prosecution said her tests were invalid — because the jailers had kept Mr. Padilla handcuffed throughout.

We will probably never know if Mr. Padilla was a would-be terrorist. So far, this trial has been a reminder of how Mr. Bush’s policy on prisoners has compromised the judicial process. And it has confirmed the world’s suspicions of the United States’ stooping to the very behavior it once stood against.

A man's life has been totally ruined for no good and legal reason. And it appears no official will ever be held "accountable" (that over-worked but necessary word). These are crimes and I hope if sanity ever prevails again in the US government that these people will be brought up on charges.

Glenn Greenwald has summarized the history of the Padilla case here and here. To reread these posts is to be angered, saddened, and disgusted all over again. THIS IS A US CITIZEN, imprisoned illegally, based on information obtained by torture, and held out of access to the most basic protections of our legal system. It DOES happen here.