[NJ_gent]

"Padilla's a flipping traitor"

How do you know?

I'm not saying he isn't, because I don't know that either. The fact is, neither of us know anything more than what our government is telling us. Of course, everyone's willing to believe whatever the government says when it's their guys running it (ie see liberals' reactions to Waco, Ruby Ridge, etc).

[xzins]

How do I know that Abdullah Muhajir (Padilla) is an enemy combatant?

Because the alternative is ridiculous.

That we took this random young ignorant kid exiting a plane and decided to make his life hell.

That doesn't pass the common sense test. There's no value in the government doing that.

Both his passport and his plane ticket would show his travels. Why do you think this former gang member and jailbird and convert to Islam who traveled in Egypt, Pakistan, and Afghanistan should not at least be considered suspicious even if we lack all the detailed info in the possession of the government?