MORE SWEET INNOCENTS – AT 7:33 P.M. ET:  It is remarkable to witness what we are expected to believe.  From the Washington Post:

Five Northern Virginia men arrested in Pakistan indicated Monday that they plan to fight terrorism charges that Pakistani police are recommending by using a strategy seen in U.S. courtrooms: that they were preparing for jihad but not planning any terror attacks.

The men told a Pakistani court that they had neither sought nor established contact with extremist groups, and traveled to the region only "to help the helpless Muslims," according to their Pakistani attorney. As they entered the courtroom, one of the men, Ramy Zamzam, told reporters: "We are not terrorists. We are jihadists, and jihad is not terrorism."

Oh sure.  They showed up in Pakistan "to help the helpless Muslims."  I'm sure their help meant a great deal. 

By the way, has any reporter ever asked where five young guys got the money to make these flights to Pakistan?  We're talking thousands of dollars.  Why do I think they weren't helped by the United Way?

The men, all from the Alexandria area, left the United States shortly after Thanksgiving without telling their parents, who alerted the FBI.

Good for the parents.  Give them credit.  But why would they go to Pakistan and not tell their parents if they were on some kind of humanitarian mission?  Hmm.

Of course, the airline bomber's father also alerted American authorities, but we didn't take it seriously, as we all now know.

Pakistani police say the men were in contact with a Taliban recruiter, were seeking to join al-Qaeda and came to Pakistan to carry out terrorist acts.

That's probably more like it.

The FBI is also investigating the men, and officials have said the Justice Department is likely to consider charges in the United States.

Of course, they'll be read their Miranda rights.  It's the least we can do.

January 4, 2009