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A few months ago, FDL friend Rick Perlstein (now blogging at The Big Con ) asked me to join him and a friend for lunch. The friend turned out to be Lew Koch, an award winning investigative reporter. As we chatted, I learned that Lew has been following - as only a real reporter can - the Jose Padilla case and his piece examining whether Padilla could have made a "dirty bomb" was carried in the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists (pdf).
Lew is also - lucky for us - a dedicated reader of Firedoglake - and after some cajoling, we got him to agree to cover the Padilla trial for us. His posts on the trial will run at 9PM ET on Wednesdays and 7PM ET on Fridays plus he'll let us know if there's a breaking development in between. This week Lew is in Miami covering the opening arguments and getting the lay of the land. Since the trial is expected to take months, we're not able to keep Lew on the scene but he's got amazing contacts on this case and will be keeping us all well informed.
Let me tell you a bit about Lew. An investigative reporter for over 30 years, Lew studied with Saul Alinsky and was one of the founding editors of the Chicago Journalism Review, the first journalism review owned and operated by working journalists, founded to criticize the media. He directed the Urban Journalism Fellowship Program at the University of Chicago in the 70's, broke the news of the murder of Black Panther Fred Hampton (risking his job with NBC News in the process) and produced a three hour documentary as well as a one hour special based on his reporting from the 1968 Chicago Democratic Convention. The first recipient of the Jacob Scher Award, Chicago's highest awards for investigative journalism and community service, Lew became the first reporter to win this recognition twice. More recently, he's done a great job covering the cyber world as a Special Correspondent for CyberWire Dispatch, the listserve founded by Brock Meeks (which was brilliant).
Lew's spidey senses (as Jane would say) went into overdrive when he saw "a south side jamoke" being charged with being a terrorist mastermind and he's been tireless chasing this story ever since. With contacts ranging from his years of covering Chicago in the streets to his contacts with legal experts and scientists, Lew's been preparing for this story since the original arrest.
Warren Richey of the Christian Science Monitor is noting that Reporters face unusual limits at Padilla terror trial which does not bode well for the MSM coverage. Having Lew take on this story for us will give Firepups a chance to learn the real story as the trial moves forward.
Let's welcome Lew to our team - he's in court today but Lew will join us during his regular posts and also welcomes comments and discussion at lew dot koch at gmail dot com.
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siun!
zed
so close
Zed?
Bring it on Lew Koch!
Viewer warning - PrezNut live from Rose Garden.
Hi Gang … pretty exciting, eh?
Lew is amazing and would be with us today but he’s at the courthouse for opening day. Meanwhile, the link for the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists takes you to his article on the original charges and it’s fascinating.
Welcome, Lew. The Padilla case is an important battleground in our fight to save the Constitution from the Bushites who seek to undermine it. I look forward to your insights.
OK, so Lew’s not here. I hope he has a chance to read the comments later.
The abuse of Jose Padilla is uncivilizated and brutal. Our “government” has used him has a symbol of their power and cruelity. There was no reason for him to be placed in solitary confinment for years. Was the prison system so inept that they could not take care of him any other way??? No. Or……well maybe but it was torture plain and simply. I am so happy that Lew Koch is on board at FDL. Now the trial will become public. Or as public as the censors will allow.
We are fortunate to get this coverage. I remember when newspapers used to follow stories in this way.
Thanks to all involved.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Bush helped raise $10.5 million for the national Republican Party at its annual gala on Thursday night, the smallest take in years for the event that came only months after the GOP lost control of both houses of Congress.
The Republican National Committee’s spring fundraising gala hosted by the president raised $17 million last year, $15 million in 2005 and $14 million in 2003. When Bush was seeking re-election to the White House in 2004, the dinner brought in a record $38.5 million.
Greetings Lew! looking forward to your coverage. It’s such an important case.
egregious @ 11
Amen. Great work, Siun & FDL. Looking forward to hearing from Lew.
Another feather in the cap of FDL. Way to go guys, really looking forward to Lew’s updates on this one!
Yay! I lurked here during the Libby trial and came here as soon as I realized that opening statements in the Padilla trial were today, hoping you would have some live-bloggy-goodness. You are really going to make a name for yourself as reporters/source info with your dedication to bringing us these trials which have unintended consequences of exposing government overreaching. Thank you.
rwcole @ 12
That’s such a shame, and very telling.
rwcole @ 12
It would have been even less if they’d accommodated any of the people demanding refunds.
“But the duly elected people’s bodies, the U.S. Congress and the Iraqi parliament, say they want a troop withdrawal,” pressed Russert. “That’s more than a poll. Isn’t that the voice of the people?”
“Well, the–as far as the Iraqi parliament is concerned, the Iraqi government obviously doesn’t feel that way, their–the representatives in their government,” replied McCain, seemingly dismissing the Iraqi parliament’s ability to govern its own country.
“Second of all,” he continued, “there is some, a certain amount of domestic political calculations involved there in what the Iraqi, quote, ‘parliament’ said. The Iraqi parliament has their ability to, to voice their views, and I respect them.”
Later, when asked if he would be “in favor of a referendum amongst the Iraqi people to make a decision as to whether US troops should stay or leave,” McCain appeared to contradict himself.
“No, no more than I should–would have a referendum in the United States of America as to whether Iraqi troops should leave, or whether we should be in or out of NATO, or any other issue. The Iraqi government is an elected government, and they are functioning,” he said, implying that the parliament he had mocked earlier as able only to give opinions was fully functional.
From his article - this says it all:
“Ron Sievert, a University of Texas
at Austin law school professor and
U.S. assistant attorney, in his comprehensive
book Cases and Materials
on U.S. Laws and National Security,
questions the powers of so-called
military commissions, especially
when a military commander, including
the president acting as commander
in chief, substitutes “military force
for and to the exclusion of the laws
and punish[es] all persons, as he
thinks right and proper, without
fixed and certain rules.”
If unchecked, such power would
mean that republican government,
and liberty regulated by law, would
come to an end. With such powers,
martial law could be used to destroy
every guarantee of the Constitution,
and effectually render the military independent
of and superior to civil
power. The idea was deemed such an
offense by this country’s founders
that they cited it as one of the main
reasons for declaring independence
from England. “Civil liberty and this
kind of martial law cannot endure
together; the antagonism is irreconcilable;
and, in the conflict, one or
the other must perish,” Sievert
writes.
During the turbulent Civil War
years, Abraham Lincoln declared an
emergency, suspended the writ of
habeas corpus, and declared martial
law both in 1861 and 1862. Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court Roger
B. Taney ruled that Lincoln did not
have that right. In 1866, after the
end of the Civil War, the Supreme
Court reinstated habeas corpus.”
McCain is suffering from dementia and will be the logical gooper successor to Raygun the Confused.
Slowly the gooper rats are leavin their lover…
“just slip out the back Jack
Get a new plan Stan
No need ta be coy Roy
Just get yerself free.”
am jazzed to learn that fdl will be covering the padilla trial.
confession: don’t know the charges he’s standing trial for. or the penalties. or, for that matter, which court is hearing this.
feel free to fill me in.
thank you lew, thank you siun! i’m so glad to know that we’re going to be well informed on this important trial.
McCain says that the Iraqis have a QUOTE Parliament UNQUOTE.. So they don’t really have a democratically elected govt? John- yer LOSING it- quit the race before it’s too late!!
are you kidding me ?!?!? I like him already and then to see Alinksy and the Fred Hampton story - jeepers ! we are some fortunate firepups
thanks Siun !!!!
dmg @ 23
As per Siun’s post, this link will fill you in:
http://thebulletin.metapress.c.....lltext.pdf
rwcole @ 22
50 ways to leave your BushCo
I admit I have constant and vivid nightmares about Jose Padilla and I think I might lose my mind completely if I follow his trial. The unimaginable torture of this human being makes me sick to my stomach. :(
dmg @ 23
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Padilla_(alleged_supporter_of_terrorism)
Also, if you can get ahold of a copy of Glenn Greenwald’s How Would A Patriot Act?, see pp. 47-52.
Padilla was the so-called “Dirty Bomber” held in military prison for over three years by the Bush administration as an “enemy combatant” without any charges being filed against him.
Welcome Lew. But for my own edification, which is YOUR way of pronouncing your last name?
Reason I ask, I have known individuals who have pronounced it:
Cook,
Coke,
Cock, and
Coch.
I think that may be a record with a four letter name and a pronounciation for each letter. :})
And thank you, Lew. Even if I can’t find the inner strength to follow the trial, god bless you and your work.
Golly, a genu-wine Al Queda terrorist in the USA with the intent and ability to set off a nukular device and nary a peep from the MSM about the trial.
WTF?
Kudos to FDL, and welcome (and thanks) Lew.
FDL, the home of sunshine! I guess this means that the NYT and WaPo will steal their trial coverage from Lew.
LS @ 27
much obliged. thankee.
Sorry that link doesn’t work, go to Wikipedia and search for “Jose Padilla”
[Fixed by mod]
neurophius @ 30
thanks very much; i know who he is. just wasn’t up to speed that his trial was imminent.
Welcome, Lew! I’m looking forward to your reports!
Bob in HI
Dakine - Lew “Cook” is the best pronounciation and thanks for asking.
And CBL - that’s what made us chase Lew for this assignment … I actually remember the Hampton story breaking and it was a blast to meet the guy who broke it. We’ll have to get Lew to tell us some stories once the trial coverage gets rolling - he’s a star of the real school of journalism and we can learn so much.
And I should say, I’m sure Lew will be reading this this evening … he is a very dedicated FDL reader.
Conduct unbecoming or unbecoming conduct? Ed*ard? http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/200.....uctor_bush
Good morning pups. This is so exciting. Thanks for making this happen.
“We’re talking about saving the auto industry from itself,” said Sen. Chris Dodd, who is proposing the highest increase of any presidential candidate.
Dodd, D-Conn., wants to double the average fuel economy for each automaker, from about 24 miles to per gallon today to 50 mpg by 2017.
“The industry just digs its heels in to fight any of these changes, but it’s hard to maintain a very sympathetic ear when you realize that other (foreign) automakers are moving” in the direction of more fuel-efficient vehicles and “devouring market share in the country,” Dodd said in a telephone interview. “Why aren’t we doing this?”
Other Democratic candidates have talked about mileage increases, too:
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, a former energy secretary, also wants to reach 50 mpg, but his deadline would be three years later than Dodd’s. Richardson plans to offer details of his proposal Thursday.
Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards wants 40 mpg by 2016. He has urged his audiences to consider sacrificing their gas-guzzling vehicles for the good of the country. In a campaign line that he uses often and that wins applause, the 2004 vice presidential nominee says, “It’s time for Americans to be patriotic about something other than war.”
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton plans to announce her proposal for increasing fuel economy in the coming weeks. Clinton spokesman Phil Singer noted that in the past she has supported increasing fuel efficiency by 10 mpg over the next decade.
At a speech last Monday at the Detroit Economic Club, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama lectured automakers on their home turf for investing in bigger, faster cars while dependency on oil is jeopardizing U.S. security and the global environment.”
In the meantime, the ACTUAL president of the united state is giving a speech on what HE”s gonna do about global warmin and other made up shit since the supremes told him he has ta do somethin about it. A law against cow farts- with a death penaltly attached for multiple offenses is the most likely outcome. Execution to be outsourced to Swift and Company.
Siun @ 39
Is he just a lurker or does he comment?
Conduct unbecoming or unbecoming conduct? Ed*ard? http://news.yahoo.cohttp://thi.....uctor_bush
dmg @ 23
Neither does the Govmint. They keep changing the charges every time they bring him into court.
Bob in HI
The president prefers VOLUNTARY regulation. He’s a “smoke em if you’ve got em” kinda guy..
You wanna be regulated- well fine- BE regulated- otherwise- pollute away!!!
Thanks Siun - I remember Lew Koch’s name well from my old Alinsky Institute days for in those rough and tumble times when women were first gaining admission to organizing training he was - rightly or not - perceived to have been an advocate for what was then a very contenious notion that our fair sex was long overdue for admission. The late great Frances Heisler had long advocated admission of women and marvelled at the subsequent success of the enlightened policy.
dmg - all charges surrounding the dirty bomb have been dropped
linky
link on jury selection
“Why Karl Rove Cared” Froomkin’s up.
Froomkin
OK, who busted the margins?
Bob in HI
[Mod: Refresh, and it should be fine]
Yet once again this site is raising the bar for not only blogs but integrating what they do with the more mainstream mass media and illuminating the failures of much of the latter.
A welcome to Lew.
siun,
thanks again for the link to koch’s piece in the bulletin of the atomic scientists. having read it, i can see why his reportage will be excellent for fdl.
between that piece and many reams of material before it, i’m fairly well down on the issues padilla’s case presents.
what i still don’t know, and am embarrassed to admit, is i’m not clear:
a) where he’s standing trial — federal court? (sdny?) military court? where?
b)on what charges?
c) and who’s representing him?
sorry to be so stupid. help with any of this would be much appreciated.
Holy Jeebus, Siun. You teased us last night with this, but saying you were introducing someone to cover the Padilla trial and then pulling out Lew Koch is kind of like saying you bought a boat, and then pulling out the Titanic. Are we a lucky bunch! Every day I find a new reason to love this site and community more. Thanks for all you do.
This is going to be interesting. Once again, FDL at the forefront of reporting on the things that really matter. Thanks all.
Very impresive journalistic coup! Congrats!
Guess I’m not going to bet much done this week. Again.
cbl @ 48
much appreciated — that story is datelined out of miami. is it in fact going to be heard in a fed court in miami?
o/t
Red State issues a fatwa . . .against Repubs
sorry . . .can’t. . .stop. . .giggling
Siun,
Quite interesting that on a morning when fdl is (once again) pointing out the inadequacies of so many reporters, out pops Lewis Z. Koch, a very thorough and courageous reporter, at the lake. The sweep of time between his groundbreaking coverage of the massacre of Fred Hampton and the Padilla trial is 38 years. But many African-Americans and Puerto Ricans are aware of the even longer history of manufactured charges and premediatated assassinations against their political activists engaged in by government agencies on all levels. Pups unfamiliar with the Hampton massacre can read about Hampton at his wikipedia entry.
Siun @ 38
My pleasure to ask Siun. It’s one of those simple questions but most folks aren’t QUITE as rude as I am to ask it. Especially when there are so very many variants. Glad I’ve got a simple name myself, saves all the confusion. ;})
I think that McCain has a point, or at least thinks he does. A majority of the members of the Iraqi parliament have, as I understand it, signed a petition to get a vote on a timetable for US withdrawal. But the leadership is blocking any action on the petition, even though it appears that they don’t have the right to do so under the constitution.
So the parliament has not officially acted, and probably official action can be held up indefinitely, as long as Maliki will go along, especially if not enough members of parliament can physically be present to create a quorum.
dmg - yes - Southern District Florida - Asst. US Atty John Shipley is prosecut. Judge is Cook
article about Judge
Amazing,while Judy Judy Judy talks to her mirror, we get the best and brightest!
Another scoop on the poop that is the MSM.
Kudos.
Many, Many thanks. Besides that I used to live in Charleston, I am ecstatic to see that someone is working to see that this case won’t be swept under the rug. Also thanks for the link to the “Dirty Justice” article which does a great job on the hysteria factor.
Let’s see - arrested on one set of charges. Kept in isolation for many years (I’m sure that stabilized his psychology!), now after having his head scrambled he is charged on something unrelated. Not to mention the questionable “crime” of applying to a terrorist school - perhaps he was doing it for information for a term paper ?
*ilbo @ 40
Oh, Dear! JoAnne Falletta is one of my favorite conductors. I interviewed her back in October, 1994, when she directed the Bay Area Womens’ Philharmonic. Bush patted her on the head, eh? Whatever. I’m sure he knows Stars and Stripes Forever by now.
Thank you Siun for this exciting addition to FDL coverage!!
BTW, how do you pronounce Siun?
Shaun
Si - un
Shun
Sun
???? :)
Welcome, Lew! This is most excellent! I’d love to hear you talk about the evolution of the media, as well as the coverage of the Padilla case up to now.
newspaperbrat @ 47
I was a little too late for that — my introduction to Uncle Saul came via a copy of his book Rules for Radicals that I was given as partial payment for a babysitting gig in 1981 or thereabouts — and I have envied people like you ever since. :-)
The sad thing is that he knew — he KNEW — that the institutional righties would be paying far more attention to his work than the institutional lefties, who very rarely were willing to get down into the muck where the action was and is. Ralph Reed in particular must have memorized Alinsky’s works. Look at the rise of the right-wing “single-issue” groups: That’s taken straight from Alinsky. Get ‘em in on one issue, then, when they’re comfy, slowly reveal the rest of your agenda.
i haven’t read all of the comments yet but i have a question, in case it hasn’t been already answered:
Is Jose Padilla an American citizen?
Excellent piece over at TPM Cafe about Lam’s firing. It seems the FDLers are not the only ones who are wondering when the real questions are going to be asked.
TPM Cafe
Yeah I believe Padilla is a citizen- otherwise he’d be at gitmo gettin his dick voltage regulated.
There is a very, very important diary by Dengre at Kos that is a must read whenever you have a chance:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyo.....13220/6198
fahrender#67,
Yes-and was arrested on American soil.
US automakers continue to fight against a system that would reward cars for being clean, reliable and efficient.
“How the hell are we gonna compete on THAT battleground—we do “Big, Loud, Fast, and Dirty”
It seems that Padilla is the constitutional “experiment” to test the unitary executive’s newly found power. An American citizen, arrested on U.S. soil, determined by the powers that be to be an enemy combatant, no habeas corpus.
fahrender @ 67
Yes.
BTW, fahrender, you write beautiful poetry.
rwcole @ 19
I think McCain is ill.
LS @ 73
I have a few tests I’d like to do on our unitary executive
OT
My Senator, Patty Murray just sent me an unsolicited e-mail informing me she has a weekly e-mail update available for her activities.
I. am. impressed.
She is hot on oversight in her own right.
For your info , here is the link.
You have several choices of what you would like to be updated on.
http://murray.senate.gov/updates/
rw cole (@41): auto industry foot-draggers
This is a prime example of how Big Corporations HATE AMERICA.
No matter how good the idea and how important it is for America and the world they will fight tooth and nail to maintain the status quo.
They will spend many millions of dollars to keep things the way they think they should be, but the truth is if they accepted the idea of 50mpg they would make good money from it and be more competitive with foreign automakers.
With their pride and arrogance they are a perfect fit with Bush.
LS #73, you’ve put your finger on why the Padilla trial is so important. Combine that with the OVP’s assertion that the OVP is neither an Executive or Legislative branch office but is in fact immune from oversight by either, and you have most of the foundation for an American dictatorship. Add the line-item veto, and all that’s missing is the ability of the Executive to appropriate money-and I’m sure that’s in the works somewhere.
This is my listing on Padilla from my scandals list:
I should also note that the dirty bomb charge has been dropped. Most of the government pronouncements were based on hot air and hype, which is not to say that Padilla is a choirboy just that the government never had much of a case against him.
I would like at some point to hear from Mr. Koch what he thinks about Comey’s part in all this.
fahr
They ARE Bush- they and the oil industry- and the insurance industry and the defense industry, and the banking industry and the drug industry. He has no visible personality apart from these corporations who keep shovin money up his ass.
Jane (nyc) @ 68
Yes– excellent! I hope Leahy or Waxman will be following up!
Bob in HI
RonD @ 80
Hence the need for off budget money, which is detailed in Dengre’s kos diary. They HAVE the money now. What about the trillions the pentagon announced were -ooops- missing as of Sept 10, 2001? Talk about burying your lede. And plenty more stolen since then. This is gonna be one hell of a story when it all comes out.
Boy, this is good stuff. Jose Padilla has been treated like prisoners were treated in the middle ages.
“sorry to be so stupid. help with any of this would be much appreciated.”
Not at all.
Coverage of this trial has been, uh, muted, at best.
I remember when Padilla was arrested and what a big deal it was. Bush, Cheney, Ashcroft, et. al. saying we have averted a “dirty bomb attack.” More evidence that the terrorists were lurking RIGHT HERE IN THE USA!
Well, as it turns out, it’s all bullshit. So, Padilla is tortured for three years in a vain attempt to find something to charge him with. Then, when defense lawyers ask for a copy of the taped confession, the government says the evidence has been lost. (perhaps someone can come up with a link-this came out 3-4 months ago, I think)
Something doesn’t smell right with this story. You’d think capturing a dirty-bomb terrorist would lead the evening news night after night-instead it’s been squelched. That’s why Lew Koch’s reporting is so important. Thanks again, Siun, FDL!
President Bush mooned the press today–forgetting that he has the words “Property of Exxon-Mobil” tattooed on his backside.
rwcole @ 42
Heh.
Newspaperbrat - I can well see Lew fighting for women’s rights in the often so macho world of organizing … he’s definitely a supporter of women, esp ladies like our Jane!
and LS … I pronounce my name Shoon but MfI says it better thanks to his fluent gaelic. LOL .. it was the name my father wanted for me but it took a while for me to get to use it.
egregious @ 84
Plus, the question of the ‘missing’ Iraqi oil per day…at least for me. YMMV.
Glad to see we’ll have excellent coverage of Padilla’s trial.
That distict USA is Acosta. A Bushie. So, I’ll be interested in how this assistant fares. But, I’d be very skeptical there’s any real case at at all.
Siun @ 88
if the shoon fits, wear it! :~)
Hugh - I am sure Lew will be writing about Comey and I gather his view varies from some here. I think it will be an interesting discussion and one that will help us add perspective.
Hugh @ 82
since hugh didn’t give you his link:
hugh’s list of bush scandals
LS @ 73
In a nutshell, this is why this should be the trial of the century vs. Anna Nicole’s lack of estate planning…
Loo Hoo @ 84
except the goons working Padilla over have modern day technology and the latest psychological research in the destruction of psyche and personhood. we used to decry the soviet system and its psychological professionals and now we’ve become the admitted world leaders in this reprehensible business.
egregious @ 84
ooo I hadn’t thought about the missing money that way before ooo
fahrender @ 94
Exactly. We’re the bad guys now. So horrid. The first time I was ever truly ashamed to be american was when we invaded Iraq.
I thought I saw where Padilla had been examined and found unfit to contribute to his defense.
Stockholme syndrome plus kinda generally being almost insane from sensory deprivation and isolation.
Anyone else see something along those lines?
Elliott—yes. Iran contra was just the warm up exercise for seeing how much money they could take off budget and get away with it.
An independent ‘government’ with its own Blackwater army and trillions of dollars. What could go wrong?
Welcome Mr. Koch. I’m looking forward to your reporting. *ducking back to work*
And I still want to know what do they mean by “read into the program,” have they already declared the uber secret shadow government sovereign?
CONGRESS: WAKE UP AND GET A GRIP
“Exactly. We’re the bad guys now. So horrid. The first time I was ever truly ashamed to be american was when we invaded Iraq.”
Well the spanish american war wasn’t so hot either- neither was the way we fucked Mexico out of the southwest- slavery wasn’t a bright moment- and Vietnam really sucked- then there was the way we let the Dulles brothers fuck over Guatamala for the sake of the banana company they owned- and then—oh— never mind.
RonD @ 74
thanks, Ron. i’m not sure what i aspire to but beautiful will do just fine.
Jenny from the Blog @ 29
I agree with your assessment Jenny and can’t even begin to imagine what this man has been forced to endure. Even if the government proves that Padilla was a threat, our government will be judged by their treatment of one of our own citizens - seized and then tried in the press as a dirty bomber when 9/11 was still fresh in our national psyche. Now the charges have been changed and some were quietly dropped, but the continued torture, solitary confinement and sensory deprivation of a U.S.citizen is frightening because it reveals what means the neocons are willing to use as the worked in secret, never dreaming their tactics might be revealed. That they chose to use such barbaric methods in our name is truly frightening. I hope and pray we can stop this from ever happening to anyone again, even if it is to our worst enemies. I wouldn’t subject an animal to the treatment that Padilla has been through, much less a human being.
Missing Padilla evidence linky:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17...../newsweek/
Siun @ 87
that pronunciation is almost identical to that of the German word for beauty.
LS @ 70