Dahlia Lithwick on the disturbing ways in which Zacarias Moussaoui is right.
I have trouble with the idea of calling Moussaoui a show trial—but then again, what do we really think the odds are that he’s just going to be sent to jail?
Dahlia Lithwick on the disturbing ways in which Zacarias Moussaoui is right.
I have trouble with the idea of calling Moussaoui a show trial—but then again, what do we really think the odds are that he’s just going to be sent to jail?
What do we really think the odds are that he deserves to just be sent to jail?
If he’s convicted and executed, that doesn’t prove it was a show trial…
I’m just saying that, like McVeigh before him, the fact that everyone expects him to die, and will be surprised if he doesn’t, proves that we’re not exactly using the presumption of innocence standard.
As to whether he deserves to die, you’re talking to a guy who thinks we shouldn’t be killing anyone. (Although some folks are definitely less protest-worthy than others….) I’ll note in passing that what he pled guilty to were far lesser charges than the original ones the government lodged against him, so to some extent the first impression most people have as to whether we should fry him were set by inaccurate impressions.
Of course, that’s all the rage these days.