Are we still "sexing up" charges of terrorism?

[lindashaw]

In Setback for U.S., Indonesian Cleric Cleared of Terror Charges


An Indonesian court this evening acquitted the radical Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, widely identified as the spiritual leader of Al Qaeda's Southeast Asia affiliate, of charges that he ordered a series of terrorist attacks in Indonesia, and of plotting to assassinate the Indonesian president.

snip...

The verdict represents a serious setback for the Bush administration, as well as Australia and regional governments, which has had a hard time persuading the Indonesian government that Mr. Bashir and Jemaah Islamiyah were serious terrorist threats.

snip...

Today's verdict will reinforce the view of many Indonesians, including senior political leaders, that the United States has exaggerated the terrorism problem here.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=68&ncid=68&e=2&u=/nyt/20030902/ts_nyt/insetbackforusindonesianclericclearedofterrorcharges

[gratuitous]

1. I think so

And the proof in that pudding is to watch reports coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan. Every firefight, every body, every person who tangles with the American Imperial Fightin' Force is an Al Qaeda operative. Somehow, thousands of miles from their air-conditioned studios, the network and cable talking heads can spot an Al Qaeda member (particularly after the smoke from the engagement clears), but they don't have the foggiest notion who might be Al Qaeda in this country, or before the shooting starts.

Sort of like Tony Blair's lame excuse last week that if the dodgy dossier were really all that dodgy, he would have resigned as Prime Minister. Since he didn't resign, the intelligence reports are de facto correct.

Tony Blair is not changing his name to Dr. Pangloss.

EDITED TO REMOVE CHIMPYISM "IMPERICAL" FOR COMMON ENGLISH "IMPERIAL."