Where was the media during all this?

[NNN0LHI]

http://mediamatters.org/items/200708180001?f=h_top


The misdemeanor outlaw, chased an' cheated by pursuit

Jose Padilla was convicted yesterday, not for plotting to detonate a "dirty bomb" in the U.S., as the Bush administration alleged -- and the media breathlessly reported -- when he was arrested in 2002, but of a conspiracy to aid terrorism abroad. During the five years between his arrest and conviction, Padilla -- a Brooklyn-born American citizen -- had been held for years without being charged, without having access to an attorney or to the outside world, subjected to interrogation techniques that have been described as torture, and, according to psychiatrists who have examined him, has been mentally broken.

All at the hands of his own government -- the United States government.

There are few better reasons for having a free press than exposing potential government torture of its own citizens. And yet, after hyping the Bush administration's initial announcement of the arrest of the so-called "dirty bomber," the three major evening news broadcasts largely went silent about the government's treatment of Padilla.

In 2002, when Padilla's initial arrest was announced, ABC's coverage of the Bush administration's allegations was typical:

On June 10, 2002, World News Tonight aired a clip of then-Attorney General John Ashcroft claiming that Padilla was an "Al Qaeda operative and was exploring a plan to build and explode a radioactive dirty bomb." ABC's Pierre Thomas added, "By early May, law enforcement officials believed Muhajir decided to come back to the U.S., looking for high-profile targets, including government buildings and monuments in Washington."

On June 11, World News Tonight anchor Peter Jennings introduced another report about Padilla by announcing, "The man who is accused of planning to attack the U.S. with a so-called dirty bomb is now in military custody. Perhaps, he'll have a trial some day." Thomas went on to report that Padilla "was moved from the criminal justice system to a military prison yesterday. His lawyer, who has not been allowed to see him yet, says it was in violation of his constitutional rights. ... Government officials say their first priority is to get information from Muhajir , not to prosecute him."

ABC's report included video clips of President Bush, Ashcroft, and then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. ABC did not, however, give any indication that anyone other than Padilla's attorney was concerned that he was being held without access to his lawyer and without being charged.

[mmonk]

1. A kick so those that still believe American citizens

are somehow protected and the government will only deny rights to non citizens might realize that is not necessarily true.

[snappyturtle]

2. Yeah where is the press...again? Whether Padilla has done

something treasoness or NOT, the problem with his case is how he was treated. It's something we should all be fearful of. I hope the appeal process gets more light. K&R

[gratuitous]

3. Oh, it was just a dirty bomber with a funny-looking face

Doesn't affect any of the blow-dried well-pompadoured perfumed hanky-wearers of the Glorious Fourth Estate.