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American Citizen Adam Gadahn: Charged With Treason

washingtonpost.com — A California native who has appeared in al-Qaeda propaganda videos was indicted for treason today, making him the first American to be charged with that crime since the post-World War II era, the Justice Department announced.

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  • rishubhav, on 10/12/2007, -51/+21And so it starts. Bush won't be content with just rounding up true blue terrorists, he'll move on to anyone who opposes him. AFter all , anyone can be accused of breaching their duty or allegiance to the U.S, and with no habeus corpus, whose to know?
    • dukrous, on 10/12/2007, -8/+40Gadahn is a true-blue terrorist. He's assisting in the creation of al-Qaeda propaganda. That's the basis of the charge.
    • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -38/+14Yes but I think what rish is saying here, and I agree, is that this is just the beginning..this is the start of convicting so-called "terrorists" in our country..
      first..yes..he will start with the real terrorists..and I agree this guy probably deserves what he gets..
      but.. after enough real terrorists are arrested and people stop paying attention, I think they will start arresting non-terrorists...this would fall in line with the recent laws passed expanding the definition of a "terrorist".

      they will start arresting dissidents..
      then anyone who doesn't agree with what the administration...

      its a slippery slope.
    • p0s3r, on 10/12/2007, -16/+35Since when is arresting terrorists a slippery slope? Thats the dumbest thing I've ever heard.
    • drag, on 10/12/2007, -14/+31"its a slippery slope."

      I say that's a bunch of BS.

      That's like saying "Oh today they are content with arresting child pornographers and rapists, but tomorrow they'll come after you for jerking off in the closet! Slippery slope!!"

      It's nonsense. A dissident is a person who dissagrees because he wants what is best for his country. A treasonist person is a person who sells out their country AND takes active criminal involvement in attempt to help bring about it's destruction.

      It's the difference between having a opinion that the president is a moron VS actively going out and killing U.S. soldiers or supporting the enemy attempting to kill Americans.

      There is no comparision. This person is lending moral support (and other things, he is accused of taking more active roles) to the enemy that would love nothing more then to either convert you to their own twisted version of a otherwise decent religion with violence or literally cut off your head.
    • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -20/+19When a terrorist can be anyone who bush doesn't like. That's when.
      1072 diggs. http://digg.com/political_opinion/Ten_Reasons_You_Will_Not_Recognize_America_in_Ten_Years

      Or how about this?

      The term `lawful enemy combatant' means an individual who is--

      1. a member of the regular forces of a State party engaged in hostilities against the United States;
      2. a member of a militia, volunteer corps, or organized resistance movement belonging to a State party engaged in such hostilities, which are under responsible command, wear a fixed distinctive sign recognizable at a distance, carry their arms openly, and abide by the law of war; or
      3. a member of a regular armed force who professes allegiance to a government engaged in such hostilities, but not recognized by the United States.

      The term `unlawful enemy combatant' means an individual engaged in hostilities against the United States who is not a lawful enemy combatant.

      If Congress intended to protect U.S. citizens from vulnerability to the designation of "unlawful enemy combatant," they only needed to append the phrase "or a U.S. citizen" to the end of the second definition.

      --MILITARY COMMISSIONS ACT OF 2006
      http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/T?&report=hr664p1&dbname=109&

      It may not be absolutely true they can arrest who they want yet..but you can tell..its headed that direction..and fast.
    • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -23/+17How about this? "It's unacceptable to think" --GW Bush
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDg1WclMAfI

      Its getting scary.
    • TheWedge, on 10/12/2007, -7/+28Come on guys, I would almost consider myself a conspiracy theorist and I would like to say that this is an example of Bush starting this reign of terror. But seriously, a guy leaving the United States to make propaganda films and promote attacking the United States - it would be pretty damn hard to argue that that isn't a textbook case of treason.
    • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -16/+8@TheWedge: I agree..he deserves it. You missed my point?
    • TheWedge, on 10/12/2007, -2/+9@James:

      Believe it or not, I was too lazy to read your whole comment. I just assumed the comments were going in a certain direction. I agree with you now that I've read the whole thing... If anything my comment was pre-emptive because I imagine there's going to a bunch of people coming on here who didn't RTFA and just say Bush is arresting random US citizens he doesn't like now (not that I think that hasn't crossed his mind several times).
    • drag, on 10/12/2007, -2/+8@JamesWilson

      I hope they find him.
      IF.
      IF. IF he is found guilty for treason I wouldn't be unhappy if they executed him. It's a capitol crime. If he is guilty and he gets anything less then that then he is damn lucky.

      And I wish the same thing on any American who would take up arms against this country and lend aid and comfort to the enemy. It's a straight ***** thing to do.

      Your not going to convince me that this is wrong, because it isn't.

      There is no slippery slope here. Your engaged in fantasy. If a person is engaged in treason and is convicted it's the same as any other criminal act. That's not to say that president should be given cart-blanc to do what he wants.

      If a person robs a bank they should be arrested. same f-ing thing. Except worse.

      If you want to make a arguement that the government is out of control don't try to make it around something like this. Pick a better example to argue. I am not a person who supports any government. I support this country. I could give a ***** less about any politition or president or anything else. They are all bastards and need to be kept a close watch on.
    • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -9/+4I agree, lock his ass up, all you guys missed my point.
    • cdahlkvist, on 10/12/2007, -11/+6@JamesWilson
      "It's unacceptable to think" --GW Bush

      Please. That's a great way to spread more liberal propaganda.

      You and Olbermann are both idiots for taking a comment out of context. Bush said it is "unacceptable to think that there is any comparison between the behavior between the actions US and terrorists."

      He paused and the media whores decided to make it a soundbyte. It's no different than me saying "JamesWilson molests children.....that are over 18 and give consent"

      Now you're a child molester by your own misquoting.
    • jgzman, on 10/12/2007, -1/+15I don't mind him charging citizens with Treason. That's perfectly legal. I just want to see the man get a speedy trial, without 'interrogation,' without 'secret evidence,' and without anything else that impinges upon the rights of American Citizens.

      I don't have a problem with killing terrorists, or arresting traitors, I have a problem with killing my rights. And that does not appear to be happening here.
    • raybury, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@James Wilson

      Every place you find "unlawful enemy combatant" in the linked bill it is preceded by the word "alien," or the word appears nearby, as a modifier. Only in the definition is the concept separated, and this make sense because in fact an unlawful combatant may be a citizen rather than an alien. By combining the terms elsewhere in the bill, the concept of these military tribunals NOT applying to citizens is strengthened.

      If as you desire "unlawful enemy combatant" were redefined so as to exclude citizens, then someone could redefine it in the future to include them. Instead there are dozens of places where "alien" modifies "unlawful enemy combatant" in the bill, making it harder to change than if the definition was the only protection for citizens. Your proposal would undermine what you seem to want.
    • Corrosionx, on 10/12/2007, -4/+6@cdahlkvist:
      "He's taking it out of context". You're simply in denial.
      LOL You guys are laughable.

      Clearly you don't know anything about double-speak and hypnotic suggestions. Bush has power and that means people are easily suggestable when he says something.

      He said "It's unacceptable to think." .... .... ....
      ... .... ... ... "that there is any comparison between the behavior between the actions US and terrorists".

      Oh wait, both kill innocent people to achieve political goals. Both use terror to manipulate the people minds.

      Wake up now sleepyhead.
    • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3Corrosionx: God damn there is a lot of sheeple on digg! :( If this is a cross-section of even a tiny portion of what america believes then we are in for a long road.
    • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1-----------
    • fnaqzna, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1A propagandist is neither a terrorist nor a combatant.
  • vudicarus, on 10/12/2007, -20/+4The crime of treason seems so archaic. Doubly-so that you get executed for it.
    • theragu40, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2So...you're suggesting that a more modern approach would be to allow citizens to take information they garnered by being a US citizen and give to known terrorist organizations with the purpose of harming the nation? I don't think rules that preserve the integrity of our country are archaic.
    • Corrosionx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1What are the privileged information you have access as a US citizen that terrorists can't get anyway?
  • ZenMojo, on 10/12/2007, -12/+5Well, he is a terrorist after all. Treason is archaic, yes, and it should be saved for acts of espionage against the country. Right now the kid's just being seditious.

    (Of course, good luck trying the kid for sedition.)
    • Bhima, on 10/12/2007, -9/+15Sedition.... that's what the US needs right now, Sedition. Someone needs to stand up organize some people and go to Washington and empty it and we'll all start over.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Cry me a river the guy participated in training people that want to kill each of us personally.. If your not a Muslim or you wont convert you deserve to die..


      I am talking of terroists not Muslims persay..
  • mlorton, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14"Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort." Do you think Gadahn would deny that charge?
  • jellygraph, on 10/12/2007, -15/+5I expect this new power to be abused within 6 months to accuse a journalist or someone like that of treason for revealing state secrets or whatnot, unless dems win this election
    • toorus, on 10/12/2007, -9/+5point well made, I can honestly understand how you might perceive "dems" as the party that could care less about treason, or any other issue of national security or whatnot.
    • anonym41414, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7What new power? The crime of treason against one's country has been recognized for centuries. It's written right into the Constitution.

      Gadhan is levying war against the United States. It's a textbook, open-and-shut case.

      If we were talking about some kind of expansion of the definition of treason, or a change in the law concerning it, you might have a point. But as it is, no.
    • jellygraph, on 10/12/2007, -9/+5(1).
      Do you really want to sentence someone to death for producing propaganda videos? I find this idea horrific. Not because I think it's a good idea at all to star in Al-Queda videos and voice condemnation at the US administration and military, but to charge someone with the death sentence for just _that_ really says something about ourselves, our values and the values of our *cough* "Christian" society.

      (2).
      What do you mean...? Do you think its a coincidence this happens to be the _first_ person indited, just after Bush gutted the constitution in many wonderful ways and the November elections just around the corner?
  • shawgo, on 10/12/2007, -14/+11What is it with all you terrorist sympathizers? I am disgusted.
    • wuxia, on 10/12/2007, -5/+11shawgo:

      Your inability to assume innocence before proven guilty makes you not only UNAMERICAN but it makes you inhumane. It's obvious that you no longer support the most important thing in America, namely the Constitution of the United States, and I would humbly ask you to find a country more suited to your kind. Please don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
      Shame on you for giving aid and comfort to the neo-cons.
    • portwojc, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5wuxia: Innocence before guilt is one thing. It's another to sympathize with the message this man is sending out. I believe that is what shawgo was getting at.

      The man sent out warnings what would happen if people didn't convert. As well as talking about past attacks and saying don't count on this time us demostrating restraint or compassion.

      I'll let the courts decide his fate. I don't agree with his message. Do you?
  • floatingpoints, on 10/12/2007, -8/+1I'm not sure about this one.

    Is he officially part of Al Qaeda and has ties via communication to them?

    Or is he simply making videos expressing his opinion?

    If it's the latter, sorry, that's freedom of speech - not terrorism.

    I constantly say ***** all the time about how this country deserves to fall hard, and that we deserve any attack we get for letting our government get out of control - am I a terrorist? Nope.
    • portwojc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6He has appeared in five al Qaeda videos.
    • darkstar949, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5@floatingpoints - He left the country to go actively participate with Al Qaeda in the making of the videos; in fact they caught him in Pakistan.
    • jakebarnes, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@Floatingpoint

      Not to mention there are videos of him training in the training camps.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2He is appearing in training videos.. Not just videos expressing a worthless opinion but one showing how to kill you and your family.. :/
  • Sirocco, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5There are numerous ways of "waging war". One does not have to pick up a rifle and shoot to be actively engaged in the destruction of a nation.
  • onwardknave, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I find the charge of treason to be preferable to simply disregarding AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP and declaring one of our own "enemy combatants" while disregarding constitutional process. The system has never been broken. The current administration just blurred the lines so they could take away rights "for freedom."
  • americamatrix, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"In addition to his May 2004 video debut, he appeared in a video on the eve of the fourth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. This time, his face was only partially covered, and he was identified on the tape as "Azzam the American." The American people, he said, could expect "unpleasant consequences" if they continued to support their government."
    "gave al Qaeda aid and comfort . . . with intent to betray the United States"

    -The Washington Post

    Yeah, he'll be getting the chair.
  • network, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Lets try to keep on topic and not turn turn this into a "It's all Bush's fault" thread. There are plenty of those elsewhere on Digg. The topic involves an individual being charged with treason. In my personal opinion, after seeing the video, I do believe this mans acts may constitute a charge of treason.

    -US Citizen, now believed to be living in Pakistan
    -Actively attempting to recruit members into the al-Qaeda organization to wage war on the United States and western interests.
    -Believed to be in direct contact with al-Qaeda at various levels in an attempt to undermine
    the interests of the US, and it's fight on international terror.
    -Providing the enemy with first-hand knowledge of US culture, tradition and practices in a specific attempt to undermine US interests, and provide ammunition for al-Qaeda's continuing war against the west.
    -Actively promoting the idea of violent rebellion to fellow United States citizens.
    -Stated on video that our "Streets will run red with blood"

    I'm sure everyone will agree that this is a bad guy. You want to get into the technicalities of what constitutes "treason", I'll allow the legal experts to delve further. Point being, this individual needs to be seriously prosecuted and imprisoned should he ever be located.

    • floatingpoints, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0"-Actively promoting the idea of violent rebellion to fellow United States citizens."

      Don't see anything wrong with that one.

      A few Thomas Jefferson quotes to keep in mind:

      "Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny. "

      "For a people who are free, and who mean to remain so, a well-organized and armed militia is their best security."
  • mushimonster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The reasoning for the treason charge is to execute him. Terrorism alone wont insure execution.
    • network, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I personally believe that rotting in a jail cell for the rest of your life is a far worst punishment than being executed (easy way out).
    • network, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1I would add that if this man's videos incite others, possibly US citizens, to commit a direct act of terror aganst the US, then he himself is responsible for any ensuing loss of life. As of now, it is obvious that is his intention. I just hope that is if is eventually tried in a US court, the trial doen not drag on for years, costing the taxpayers millions, as with realated cases.
  • mushimonster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Alot of people on death row would disagree. Anyway execution isnt guarenteed - The threat is a great leverage tool.
  • RojoKayako, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Good! And when we catch him, I hope he is locked up in an extremely secure prison - FOREVER.
  • riverside71, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5wow.. the majority is so easy to dupe. no wonder they don't have to work hard on their psyops anymore..

    This Peralman guy is an agent provocateur.. He's specifically being used to curtail the rights of United States citizens.. Just the whole media dance around his real origins and links is proof enough of a conspiracy.

    But well.. they have the majority by the balls. No one is willing to admit we're down that road to fascism, so go ahead.. digg down as 'tin-foil', anti-semitic, unpatriotic or whatever ..
    • network, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Can you give me one example of how you personally have been effected by fascism in the states? Please be specific.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@riverside

      so who fed you that crap or did you come up with it all on your own?
  • network, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Study after study has shown that the threat of execution has very little if any effect on violent crime rates within the US.

    People murder for 3 reasons.

    Profit-They do it very rationally, convinced they will never be caught (professional killers, etc.)
    Passion-Cannot be deterred. If you hate your husband that much that you kill them, no punishment can deter you. (This applies to crimes of passion on the basis of religion as well, extremists, etc.)
    Compulsion-Predator kills child, cannot be deterred as long as the driving compulsion exists.

    The threat of capital punishment has done very little statistically in the US to deter the rate of violent crime and murder. Texas for example, who has executed more people than any other state, has violent crime rates comparable to, or in some cases higher than states without the penalty.
    • Herkimer56, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0It certainly deters the person executed from ever killing again. If a child predator is executed you can be assured that he will never come in to your neighborhood and kill your child. For me, this isn't a matter of punishment for murderers. It's a way of assuring that the murderer will never kill again. Even a sentence of life in prison without hope of parole is no guarantee that the person so sentenced will not get out of prison and kill again.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It works if it happens within a reasonable amount of time, but being on death row for 20 years wont detour anyone.. :/
  • Corrosionx, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3If Bush can appear in Anti-Iraqi propaganda videos, threaten to overthrow their government and kill innocent people (collateral damages), how is it different than Gadahn appearing in Anti-American propaganda videos and doing the same?

    Does one have more rights than the other?
    • jakebarnes, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3@Corrosionx

      If Bush was a citizen of Iraq, he'd probably be put up for the same charges there. Being as he is an American Citizen, he cannot be a traitor to another country.

      I tend not to flame, but your comment had to be the God Damned stupidest thing I have ever read. It makes me wonder how you can even read.
    • network, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Sympathizing with the terrorists. This is why it is so damn hard to get anything done in this country with people like this around.
    • JamesWilson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@network:
      If you're talking about me, I have no sympathy for Adam Gadahn. I hope they lock him up.
    • Corrosionx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well you guys are sympatizing with a terrorist too, George W. Bush.

      Only difference is, Bush DOES have the power to take away your freedom.
  • GoYe, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3EXCELLENT!

    There's no ambiguity. He provided aid and comfort, and deserves this 100%.

    And before you reply, YES, I am serious. NO, I am not being sarcastic. YES, some people actually love this country and believe that evil-doers should be punished!
  • bUND, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3FRY THE ***** !!!!

  • Tolpero, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Not too long before they will be rounding up journalists and people who refuse to be spoon-fed with the government propaganda in detention centers (read: concentration camps) in the style of Nazi-Germany.
    • GoYe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0If the "journalists" and "people" that "refuse to be spoon-fed with the government propaganda" ARE giving aid and comfort to the enemy, then, yes, they should be tried for treason.
    • Corrosionx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Well since you pay your taxes, I believe you are giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

      The enemy that takes away your freedom, kidnaps random people from the streets of foreign countries, legalises torture, uses terror threats to influence elections, takes over other governments by force, has absolutely no regards for domestic or international law, etc.

      If you're with George W. Bush, you're with the terrorists.

    • Corrosionx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1And I forgot to mention the money the U.S. government send to corrupt regimes all over the world.

      Yes sir, you are financing terrorism.
  • FuManchu, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3The point that people who believe they are supporting Law and Order in their comments on this story are failing to take into account is that "Al-Qaeda" is a terrorist front organization created by the CIA and Pakistani intelligence service.

    Every major imperial power has ALWAYS infiltrated and funded "terrorist" organizations in order to maintain their hold on the general population --both domestic and foreign.

    Read for example the history of Tsarist Russia's use of agents provocateur within the "Nihilist" movement, and it's secret support for the Serbian "Black Hand" group that assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914.

    Read also about the US government's infiltration of both the anti-war and the Black Liberation movements in the 60's & 70's.

    Governments are like the guys who secretly release termites around your foundations and then show up in Pest Eradication vans and show you how your house is going to collapse if you don't depend on them to solve the problem.
    • VolatileWhimsy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1So that is your excuse for them to act like asses?
      Why don't you give the rundown of what you are implying.. Here let me..

      During the coldwar Russia was invading that area of the world.. We the U.S. helped the people fighting against the invasion by Communist Russia. We supplied them with arms, food, and some income. Once they were safe we pulled our funding since it was never our intention to feed them for ***** forever you moron. Nor can anyone in their right mind say the U.S. was obligated to support those people forever..

      ***** cattle, i'm tired of ppl like you only telling part of the story that supports whatever you want to shove down our throats...
  • GoYe, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1If what you say is true, prove it and punish the guilty. If laws have been broken, prove and punish.

    No one wants lawbreakers to go free.

    If what you say is true, it still doesn't mean he isn't guilty of treason.

    One sin doesn't justify another. One sin doesn't venerate another.

    Prove and punish.

    He's on the video. It's obvious. He's guilty.
  • mushimonster, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I go on the record as saying I am for execution BUT I agree with some of you saying execution should not be used for revenge. This isnt a joke and the only time someone should be executed is if the person is a risk to society. Put them all in jail if they can be reformed ... BUT reform them. However if he can recruit more people to the cause from jail then he is a risk and needs to be eliminated. This is for the public good and not for revenge.
    • Corrosionx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Is it worth it if ONE innocent person gets executed?
  • Vindicator, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0 I remember Bush announcing to the world " Your either with us, or against us"...
    That is a direct ultimatum. I am against war. Being the Iraq war. Iraq did nothing to America. Other than Saddam voice his disgrace with America.
    Gadahn, has apparently joined with Al-Qada, a known enemy of the U.S. But he has not advocated violence himself. I am of no army, have never advocated violence against the U.S., but I am against the war in Iraq. I am against policy's that allow the government to arrest, torture, and use humans as guinea pigs, to get information a person may or may not have. Then discard that person as they choose. Very scary. America once had a decent judicial system. No longer. Bush has decided, that Americas articles of freedoms were the cause of 9-11, so he has gotten rid of them.
    The day is upon us, when any person who offers dissent, will "disappear". Be re-classified as an enemy combatant, and never heard from again.
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