here's some background on this, in case you need filling in... and you might be interested in this.well, I'm glad that they didn't give padilla a life sentence, but I hope it is even further reduced on appeal - I think it's ridiculous that he was ever charged with anything in the first place - the bush administration was clearly grasping at straws in a desperate attempt to justify its fabricated war on terror - the extremes that they had to go to, to find people they could accuse speaks volumes. the sad truth remains though that their propagandizing worked and they instilled fear on our country and have held us hostage ever since - that is precisely why the name of this blog is what it is - we must all be diligent in our efforts to resist succumbing to the fear mongers' influence - too often over the past six years our government and the news media have sought to promote an environment of fear, and because of their efforts, fear has invaded our societal psyche like a disease. we are not in the danger that they portray us to be - sure their are people who will use violence to further their cause and to draw attention to their efforts and vent their frustration and anger (and sure padilla was a potential danger - but note the judge's comments about the evidence - or lack of it - below), I'm certain there are even more of these people now than there were six years ago - but they aren't around every corner and they're not anxious to "attack us on our own soil" as our leaders have so often suggested - the reason we have not experienced a follow up attack since 9/11/2001 is not because of the billions of dollars and hard work by the dept of homeland security, it is simply because the threat as portrayed by the bush administration and the news media, is not real - if terrorists wanted to attack us they could - I can think of a dozen different ways to do it, and if I can they can - which simply means that if they haven't, they don't want to.
here's a link to the padilla article, I'll include a couple excerpts below in case you don't want to read the whole thing.
Prosecutors had sought a life sentence, but Cooke (she's the judge) said she arrived at the 17-year sentence after considering the "harsh conditions" during Padilla's lengthy military detention at a Navy brig in South Carolina.
"I do find that the conditions were so harsh for Mr. Padilla ... they warrant consideration in the sentencing in this case," the judge said. However, he did not get credit for time served.
Padilla's lawyers claimed his treatment amounted to torture, which U.S. officials have repeatedly denied. His attorneys say he was forced to stand in painful stress positions, given LSD or other drugs as "truth serum," deprived of sleep and even a mattress for extended periods and subjected to loud noises, extreme heat and cold and noxious odors.
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Cooke said that as serious as the conspiracy was, there was no evidence linking the men to specific acts of terrorism anywhere.
"There is no evidence that these defendants personally maimed, kidnapped or killed anyone in the United States or elsewhere," she said.
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"It is definitely a defeat for the government," said Hassoun lawyer Jeanne Baker.
"The government has not made America any safer. It has just made America less free," said William Swor, who represents Jayyousi.
_______________________________________________Padilla's arrest was initially portrayed by the Bush administration as an important victory in the months immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, and later was seen as a symbol of the administration's zeal to prevent homegrown terrorism.
Civil liberties groups and Padilla's lawyers called his detention unconstitutional for someone born in this country.
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