Police Stand By Charges For SC 2

A local piece on the two Muslim men arrested in Goose Creek. Their attorney defended enemy combatant Ali al-Marri, which probably has more to do with location, than anything. The Mayor says he knows something but isn't talking. The police claim the charges are correct.

The Goose Creek mayor said Tuesday he has inside information that he can't discuss.

"We made the proper charges against these people," said Berkeley Capt. Rick Ollic. "We are continuing the investigation. These charges are appropriate."

Megahed's new defense attorney, Andy Savage, saw things differently.

"What has happened to these two young men would not happen to two Irish-Americans," Savage said.

Savage is widely known in Charleston for taking on high-profile cases, including enemy combatant Ali al-Marri, who is held at a nearby military brig. Savage characterized the city as a mostly white, conservative area where the crime rate is low and military ties are strong.

"Muslims are still strangers in that community," he said. "They're still viewed with some suspicion."

Comments

[Fred Beloit]

'"Savage is widely known in Charleston for taking on high-profile cases, including enemy combatant Ali al-Marri, who is held at a nearby military brig. Savage characterized the city as a mostly white, conservative area where the crime rate is low and military ties are strong.

"Muslims are still strangers in that community," he said. "They're still viewed with some suspicion."'

Oh those conservatives are at it again, viewing Muslims with suspicion. I can't bear it. Many Leftist Europeans view Americans with suspicion. Many Americans view lawyers with suspicion. nowinkie views me with suspicion, Mr christamfordmum views many of us commenters with suspicion. I view Wild Willy Adkins with suspicion.

I demand a change of venue. That neighborhood, with all those whites, who don't commit too many crimes and, even more suspiciously, have strong ties to the military, get that, TO THE MILITARY. That neighborhood, that community with all those "rednecks", as nowinkie says, will not give those children a fair break. This is a terrible travesty. This investigation should be transferred to a Muslim community, like Detroit, where it can be conducted with objectivity.

[Fred Beloit]

"The whole thing was ridiculous, $300K bail for some pipe bombs exactly the same as the rednecks got caught with yesterday." This is what yesMuslim wrote under another post on this subject.

What's the idea of using bigoted language here, sister? Are Germans "rednecks" now? I'm half German and live in the South. Am I a "redneck", winkie? Exactly what do you mean by this bigoted and racist term? I want you to know that at this very second I am figuratively viewing you with suspicion.

[Phoenix]

""What has happened to these two young men would not happen to two Irish-Americans," Savage said."

Well, of course not. The Irish-Americans would have cases of Wild Irish Rose and some whiskey in the trunk.

That's a lot of bunk about the 'white area'. I know all about Charleston and the surrounding area, and those men were not in the WHITE MAN area. Nice try, Andy.

[Fred Beloit]

P, my fellow American, please understand I would never view you with some suspicion. My viewing you with some interest, however, is a distinct possibility.

[crosspatch]

If I were an average ordinary person, two young muslims with their bearded appearance and pyrotechnics of any sort in their trunks would be scary. I believe they had reason to be cautions given the reality of what we have faced in this country and threats made against us. Someone making a "bee line" to NC from South Florida would probably be in I-95 but if they were taking a coastal drive, they would have been pretty much on the route they were on. It is like someone driving from San Diego to San Francisco by taking I-5 vs. taking the Pacific Coast Highway.

I would hope there is understanding on BOTH sides of this. I would hope that the Muslim community will understand why we are reacting in this manner. We have been attacked and we have been repeatedly threatened and we can't tell simply by looking at someone who is the good guy and who is the bad guy and we can't afford to assume everyone is a good guy until proved otherwise because that proof could come in death and destruction and it would be too late.

Groups such as CAIR could to a lot to ease tensions themselves if instead of being confrontational and agitative, took a more understanding position. My gut instinct is these guys had stuff in their trunk they had been fooling around with at various times and had basically not given much thought to. If I were going to be scouting out places to attack, I certainly wouldn't be speeding next to a naval installation which is pretty much putting a huge "stop and search me" sign on them. Driving along the coast of the US takes you along several military installations. Driving in Interstate 26 would have taken them near the Charleston Navy base, Charleston Air Force Base. They would have also driven past Ft. Stewart, GA which is home to the 3rd ID.

The truth is that it is practically impossible to avoid driving near military installations if you go up the coast. But on the other hand, we can't just assume guilt just because someone was muslim and had some home made fireworks or rocket motors or whatever. We need to also be tolerant to some extent and allow the investigation to play out.

[Phoenix]

F, my fellow favorite mud-wrestler,.... come on down an git dirty with me. It'll be cool and hot and wet all at the same time. Gud lawd......

P, your wanton hussy and American.

[Fred Beloit]

You, P, have left me b-r-e-a-t-h-l-e-s-s-a-a-h-h.

[Cindi]

Hope one of you redneckers has a video camera ;).

[Phoenix]

F, my breathless one......I believe we should engage in a serious hosing to stop your panting and release us from the slimey clutches of this fine mud.

P, your concerned American.

[Scrapiron]

Muslems with bombs and they shouldn't be locked up. Give me a break, there isn't a war on the planet that doesn't involve the religion?? (more dangerous than Hitler and his friends, the use a comic book as a bible to kill) of murder and rape. Call it a hate crime, I now hate all democrats, muslems and Mexicans equally. I'm still thinking on which is the most dangerous to freedom in America. Go smoke that in your pipe.

[TheSpartan]

"I'm still thinking on which is the most dangerous to freedom in America."

Wow. I think that says it all.

[fatsacca]

Megahed is a great prison name.