Breivik's lawyer is holding a news conference - live on BBC International

[malaise]

He used drugs before committing the crimes
He wanted to wear a military uniform to court
He wanted to spread his ideas
Planned for several years - revolution in Western Europe
He believes that he's in a war and in a war you can do anything
He has no contact with is family and no family members have asked to see him
Disappointed that he couldn't spread his ideas with the closed session
Too early to say if he's insane
He did have some contacts with right wing parties
Says his war will be won in 60 years
Does not know if Breivik signed the Manifesto in London

People are asking him why he is representing Breivik since he is a Labour Party lawyer - say he won't discuss his politics
Lawyer says he agrees with the court for not letting him spread his ideas

sp

[malaise]

1. Two cells in Norway

and several abroad

This attack was on the Labour Party

add

[Skidmore]

13. If I hear one more person tell me how benevolent Christian

fundamentalists are, I'm gonna scream. Fundamentalism mixed with politics is a dangerous mix.

[ejpoeta]

15. if it comes with strings attached, it isn't benevolent at all.

[Lucinda]

2. TY for the info!

knr

[malaise]

3. Says he's in a state of war and the rest of the Western world

won't understand it for 60 years.

I marvel at the arrogance of zealots.
:hi:

[Lucinda]

9. They always are too. Amazingly arrogant. And energetic. They always have an abundance of energy

driving the crazy train.

[malaise]

4. Does he know you're a member of the Labour Party

No
He doesn't know the death toll or public feelings
Lawyer believes that Breivik is insane
says if Breivik doesn't agree with his approach he can find another lawyer

Talks a lot about his Manifesto

Took the case because he believes in Democracy and justice is an important part of democracy -talked it over with his family.

Will be a long court case. He will get a fair trial.

Tangentially another charge is pending - crime against humanity. That would have a minimum sentence of 30 years.

[rug]

5. He needs a new lawyer.

Is there no attorney-client privilege in Norway?

[malaise]

6. Don't know

He believed that he would have been killed before he reached the island and he believes he'll be killed during the trial.

[NotThisTime]

7. The lawyer can say what the client wants him to and this client wants the world to know

[joshcryer]

8. Thanks for the play by play. I don't envy the lawyer but I respect them highly.

What stomach it must take to represent a psychopath like that. Wow. Courage, too.

[xchrom]

10. Lawyer: Case suggests Norway suspect is insane

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_NORWAY_MASSACRE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-07-26-07-09-21

OSLO, Norway (AP) -- The defense lawyer for Anders Behring Breivik says he will not take instructions from his client and insists that someone has to do the job of defending him.

Asked Tuesday at a press conference if Breivik was giving Geir Lippestad instructions for his defense, the lawyer said he wasn't and that he wouldn't take such instructions. He says the whole case suggests his client is insane.

Breivik has confessed to last week's bombing in the capital and a rampage at a Labor Party retreat for young people that left 76 people dead. But he has pleaded not guilty to the terrorism charges he faces, claiming he acted to save Europe from what he says is Muslim colonization.

Lippestad confirms he's member of the Labor Party but doesnt know whether the suspect is aware.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

[malaise]

11. What I find amazing is that not one of the networks covering this

has pointed out that 2% of the Norwegian population is Muslim.
Breivik and his RW zealot friends are no better than Hitler

[ejpoeta]

12. so he's crazy? i guess that is the defense he's going for. i know he said it is too early

to say if he's insane, but it sure sounds like the defense is he's insane.

[malaise]

14. Do you think Glen Beck is sane?

Truthfully I think all zealots are insane.

[ejpoeta]

16. it's a fine line. i think sometimes they start to believe what they are peddling.

glen beck started by selling a line of bull and then started to believe it. this guy i think listened to someone selling a line of bull and believed it so much that he started a business to raise money to carry out an attack like he did. I don't know where insane begins and psychopath begins.

[blogslut]

17. No, I do not think Glenn Beck is insane

I think he is an opportunist. He doesn't actually do anything - like a real zealot.

[malaise]

18. Link for the lawyer's press conference

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/26/norway-attacks-anders-behring-breivik

[LanternWaste]

19. And ideologues too.

And ideologues too. Tough to tell the two apart sometimes... :shrug:

[War Horse]

20. I'm not sold on the "insanity" thing

He knew very well what he was doing, it was planned meticulously, he had a specific outcome in mind.

I think some people want to label him as crazy because they can't come to grips with these horrible actions...

[Octafish]

21. NAZIs did not die out with World War 2

Their evil spread to throughout the world, infecting young minds.

[kickysnana]

22. I ran smack into them in 1985

My family had joined a UCC suburban church mainly because of their excellent music program and outreach. Which kind of turned out to be a cover. I took a job as secretary there during a health crisis that made my money making job too strenuous. They sponsored refugee families but immediately insisted that they join the church and be spokespersons for the church. Several of the families were of other faiths. If not they abandoned them and threatened to withdraw their sponsorship. Wooing folks to your faith is one thing. Threatening them with deportation (and possibly no hope of then getting out of their plight) is quite another. Ugly Americans.

The Church elders/board consisted of former Nazi scientists or their children, many of whom worked for the U of MN (especially entomology) or other large corporations and what was going on behind closed doors was an education. The disconnect did not get lost on the youth in the church. There were 3 suicides in the 6 months I worked there. We were smack in one of the most liberal and best school district in the state at the time.

It is one thing to read about it and another to actually work with some and find out that they were in no way reformed, just quieter. It was almost as if they had to fill the church with music because there was no real Spirit there.

[malaise]

23. Wow!

Amazing