![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Monday's Random Thoughts
Mar. 8th, 2010 09:31 am1) Six days ago, there was a triple murder in Darien, a mid-sized and normally very "safe" suburb of Chicago. Assuming that the police and press reports are correct, it turns out the murders hinged on a custody dispute between an unmarried couple, including the daughter of the victims. Unfortunately, sordid things happen even in "good" neighborhoods.
2) It appears that, despite initial reports, we did not arrest Adam Gadahn, Al Qaida's American-born spokesman. The confusion in part seems to stem from a reluctance by US and Pakistani officials to make an official announcement, leading to reporting by leaks. (By the way, this reluctance to dash in front of a news camera is a good thing - making Al Qaida play "Guess Who We Got" can only lead to short term confusion, which might lead to somebody going to the wrong safe house.) At any rate, whoever we captured, I agree wholeheartedly with this idea: Treat them as an ordinary criminal. The money quote: If you hold him in a military brig and move him around under super-heavy security and wring your hands over how difficult it is to even hold a trial for him, you’re just feeding his whole super-villain fantasy.
2b) Regarding the above - if changing our anti-Al Qaida efforts to a "law enforcement mode" means we actually catch more of the SOBs, I for one welcome the change. And I mean that seriously.
3) I have gotten into the habit of buying travel insurance for any non-cancelable or not-easily-rescheduled travel. Every time I do so, I wonder if it is worth the money. Well, today I hear that somebody is going on vacation after surgery "because it was already planned." So, yes, if I can't at least reschedule a trip, I am buying travel insurance.
2) It appears that, despite initial reports, we did not arrest Adam Gadahn, Al Qaida's American-born spokesman. The confusion in part seems to stem from a reluctance by US and Pakistani officials to make an official announcement, leading to reporting by leaks. (By the way, this reluctance to dash in front of a news camera is a good thing - making Al Qaida play "Guess Who We Got" can only lead to short term confusion, which might lead to somebody going to the wrong safe house.) At any rate, whoever we captured, I agree wholeheartedly with this idea: Treat them as an ordinary criminal. The money quote: If you hold him in a military brig and move him around under super-heavy security and wring your hands over how difficult it is to even hold a trial for him, you’re just feeding his whole super-villain fantasy.
2b) Regarding the above - if changing our anti-Al Qaida efforts to a "law enforcement mode" means we actually catch more of the SOBs, I for one welcome the change. And I mean that seriously.
3) I have gotten into the habit of buying travel insurance for any non-cancelable or not-easily-rescheduled travel. Every time I do so, I wonder if it is worth the money. Well, today I hear that somebody is going on vacation after surgery "because it was already planned." So, yes, if I can't at least reschedule a trip, I am buying travel insurance.
