Timer on failed explosive device
By GARY BAUMGARTEN
Paltalk News Network
NEW YORK - There are a lot of lessons to be learned from the attempt to blow up a car bomb in Times Square Saturday evening. Some things in the investigation went right, some things went wrong. Mainly, because the suspect, Faisal Shahzad, was captured, they went right.
But there's one overriding lesson we should pay very close attention to. Shahzad is singing. And he wasn't even tortured.
Not only that, but to the horror of Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Rep. Pete King (R-NY), he was actually read his Miranda rights before they questioned him.
We'll have no flashback images of Dick Cheney telling us that we got important information that saved American's lives through water boarding in this case. Nor will the case conjure up images of fictional federal counter-terrorism agent Jack Bauer beating a suspect into confessing.
From what's been reported thus far, we know that Shahzad admitted his involvement. He said he acted alone (though the feds aren't necessarily taking his word on that one.) He said it was in retaliation for U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan. (Shahzad, a U.S. citizen, was born in Pakistan). And he told investigators that he received training in Pakistan.
Just like the case of the Christmas Eve airplane underwear bomber, shortly after the FBI admitted it followed the law and read Shahzad his rights, a chorus of protest was heard from politicians and pundits who thought that was just wrong. (The accused underwear bomber, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, sang, too, even after he was read his rights.)
These are folks who claim that it's necessary to violate the rights of terrorism suspects in order to protect us from those who would strip our rights away from us. And they can't even see the folly in their argument - one that they - not only proffer with straight faces - but with enhanced degrees of righteous indignation.
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Gary Baumgarten
Host - News Talk Online
Director of News and Programing Paltalk News Network
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