The Jose Padilla Conviction: Why does it rankle the liberal media establishment?

Jose Padilla Conviction: Why does it rankle the liberal media establishment?

Funny thing about terror prosecutions, the government can never get it right. That is not true, but if you read the New York Times and Washington Post this week, you would think that the conviction of Padilla on terrorism charges following a 3-month trial was a loss for the prosecution.

Why? Because neither the Times nor the Post approve of America’s handling of the accused.

The Times cautioned that the case should not be considered “a vindication for the Bush administration’s serial abuse of the American legal system in the name of fighting terrorism.” Rights have been trampled, says the Times.
The Post was a little more tepid in its condemnation. Agreeing that not every terrorism case should be held in U.S. courts but chastising that “every person held by the government -- U.S. citizen or not -- must have due process to challenge that detention.”

I think we need a breather here and must remember that terrorism cases are not pleasant for either the public or the system. We must, however, give the system the chance to work.

New York Times Editorial


The Washington Post Editorial