So what do you all think of the Faisal Shahzad situation? Some on the right like Mayor McCheese are suggesting that he shouldn't get Miranda rights. But he is apparently an American citizen. I think that even though he did do something pretty despicable, if we strip him of his rights to due process and/or use torture to interrogate him, it sets a dangerous precedent for the future.

Also, it doesn't seem to me like he is connected with Al Qaeda. His "bomb" was little more than some M-80's strapped to propane tanks, and a box of fertilizer... he didn't even get the type of fertilizer that is used as an explosive. And even then such fertilizer requires diesel fuel to even be volatile and there was no diesel present. This guy is clearly an amateur, if he did have a terrorist/extremist background he would have known how to build a proper bomb. As good as these guys are at building IED's and car bombs, I don't think they would screw something like this up so royally.

Also, I think the authorities did a decent job of handling this, tracking him down through the VIN on the engine of the SUV and then stopping him at the airport. He was placed on the no-fly list as soon as they had his name, and he ended up not flying.

I think that if he is guilty, we can punish him pretty hard and still remain within the rule of law. I am fairly certain he can be tried for sedition or treason and both of those can carry the death penalty (not that I'm really for the death penalty but I'm sure you guys are).