As in the plots previously exposed by the federal government to cut the cables on the Brooklyn Bridge and to blow up the Sears Tower, the government does not allege that anyone actually committed a violent act of any sort. No guns, no knives, no explosives. Just a lot of jive talk. This is the kind of “crime” the FBI loves to investigate. It’s so easy and safe!
Remarkably, and disgustingly, the Obama Administration is already demanding that our allies, who must regard us as a crazy uncle with lots of money, not to mention killer drones and nuclear weapons, join us in “getting tough” with Iran. So this is the Obama Administration’s new policy: always stay to the right of Dick Cheney. What’s next, a pardon, and a new office, for Scooter Libby?
Afterwords
Over at Salon, Jefferson Morley gives a nice wrap-up of the “facts” here. Over at Reason, Shikha Dalmia refuses to be terrified. Back at Salon, Glenn Greenwald points out that Obama doesn’t plan murders, he executes them. And Juan Cole explains why the “case” against Mansour Arbabsiar should make everyone involved hang his head in shame. Too bad that “everyone” includes every man, woman, and child in the United States of America.
