Reader Mail
Presumptions of Guilt
A reader posse responds to Ben Stein’s treatment of DSK. Plus: What about that second helicopter?
(Page 2 of 3)
Why is Ben Stein so concerned about DSK? He is presumed
innocent, that is why he had a bail hearing. He will very soon be
charged with a crime or released. I hope Ben knows we don’t have
special places for the well-connected public servants, Riker’s
Island is where I would go under similar circumstances. Ben is
shocked that this guy has no known entry level crime? Has he read
the papers? Women are emerging! Did O.J. prick a few with knives
before stepping up to slicing throats! I’m surprised Ben is
surprised. If DSK case follows that of the Duke lacrosse players
then this poor guy will be vindicated, his accuser will be exposed,
and his prosecutor will be shamed and ruined. Or he will just go to
Attica. I believe in the same rules as Ben Stein does, but why
speak up for this particular guy? I’m smelling some elitism.
— Harold Moyers
Has Ben Stein been dropped on his head, because it seems
he’s defending a man who’s a rapist and, well, even if the guy is
innocent Ben is coming across as though this woman is a liar
because a man like this wouldn’t dare do what he’s being
accused of and well that’s pretty sad.
— Craig
Did Mr. Stein write a similar article in support of Julian
Assange, or Bradley Manning? Of course not. I call false outrage in
support of the monied class, Mr. Stein.
— K.C. Corcoran
San Diego, California
This reminds me of the Duke lacrosse team. The fact that
this guy was staying in a $3000.00 hotel room identifies him as a
mark for a potential set-up.
— Steve Smith
Damn, Ben; could you possibly write a similar article on
the confinement of Pfc. Bradley Manning?
— Gene
Manon
Hagerstown, Maryland
Regarding the opinion of Ben Stein, please see mine
at http://bit.ly/j024Pn.
— Dimi Chakalov
Sofia, Bulgaria
Dear American Spectator,
The worst article I’ve ever read.
— Brian Oseredzuk
THE HELOS OF
ABBOTTABAD
Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.’s
The Mystery of the Second Helicopter:
The administration may have had a higher degree of confidence that bin Laden was in the Abbottabad complex, but they did not get it from satellite photos. Our current generation satellites have a resolution of about 0.3 meters (1 foot) for monochromatic (black-and-white) images and 1 meter for color images. In black and white, a human being would be a blob of 6 pixels by 2 pixels — if he was stretched out on the ground. Overhead, he’s be about 2 x 1 pixels — though his shadow could be used to estimate his height.
Persistent observation of the compound probably involved high altitude unmanned air vehicles such as Predator or Global Hawk, combined with human intelligence sources that could check out the compound by eye.
As to the number of helicopters, I believe there must have been a minimum of four involved: one for the team that assaulted the compound; one or two to insert teams in blocking positions around the compound to ensure nobody got out, or that a relief force could not interfere; and one spare to be used either in the event of a helo being lost (as happened) or to extract prisoners and casualties.
This is pretty much standard operating procedure. To engage in a raid of this sort with just one helicopter is asking for failure. Helos are nowhere near as reliable as fixed wing aircraft, and one must always provide a margin of error. Given the low speed of helicopters, having a spare bird on the ground in Afghanistan would be unacceptable — it would take the better part of an hour to get to the compound, at a time when seconds count.
I will say this: our special operations capabilities have
improved immeasurably since Operation Eagle Claw, Jimmy Carter’s
debacle in the desert — which was, by the way, the subject of my
first article for The American Spectator more than three
decades ago.
— Stuart Koehl
R. Emmett Tyrrell’s “The Mystery of the Second Helicopter” is almost incomprehensibly obtuse. It should seem clear that the SEALs needed a second helicopter for the precise reason it became indispensable to the mission: it would provide egress in the event the other was taken out.
Letter to the Editor View all comments (16) | Leave a comment
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Dee See| 5.19.11 @ 9:15AM
"In politics NOTHING happens by accident
(or happenstance). NOTHING."
-FDR
Learning that 60% of the French public think
the case is, in some sense, a set up.
WHY NOW?
---Aside from the massively swelling awakening
of the general public regarding fractional reserve,
debt generating, unaccountable, international
banking ----it seems Strauss was posing a real
challenge to the absolute globalist 'fave' Sarkozy.
Cosmo| 5.20.11 @ 1:50AM
DSK posted bail and will flee the US never to return, just like Polanski did. France does not extradite his citizens. I hope the hotel maid gets the $1 million bail money, or maybe she can sue the IMF>
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 5.19.11 @ 9:33AM
Ben Stein's article was full of pretzel logic, but he was correct.
All he needed to go into was famous cases where sensationalism had people indicted and receiving death threats before there was a trial or even an investigation.
How many remember Richard Jewell, a security guard whose life was destroyed by law enforcement in mere moments when he was falsely accused of planting a bomb.
The truth is that Richard Jewell discovered the bomb and saved many lives, yet, the media went with the phony notion put forth by incompetent law enforcement that he was guilty.
A rush to justice is never a rush to judgment.
james wilson| 5.19.11 @ 11:00AM
If people would never step out of their usual persona to surprise us in an opinion we would never know who they really are. All neo-cons are partial-cons, or they would not embrace the tag.
Lew Dunbar| 5.19.11 @ 11:29AM
I can't think of any internet published writer who has written as many dumb columns in the last 5 years as Ben Stein has.
Bensteinery:
Writing marked by cluelessness about the current situation and dishonest, pervasive Pollyanna-style peddling of "everything is OK" mantra. Such people should probably stick to exposés of organic vegetables. Markets, media and economics are not their forté, especially in the current situation. For example "The Bellows » Robert Samuelson Drinks Deeply From the Cup of Stupid: Washington Post columnist Robert Samuelson has long impressed me as one of the most hackish economic columnists not associated with the Wall Street Journal and not named Ben Stein, but today’s piece on cap-and-trade is dismally, embarrassingly stupid."
http://www.softpanorama.org/Sk.....nary.shtml
Oldefarte| 5.19.11 @ 12:41PM
To Andy Barr: Most of us here will put our masthead ahead [or anywhere else] of Ben Stein anytime, anywhere; and in consideration of his imperfections [applicable to everyone]. Oh, and take your Soros, Aires, french wine, etc and simply STICK IT WHERE THE SUN DON'T SHINE!!!!!!!
Wayne | 5.19.11 @ 12:59PM
Didn't we presume the guilt of Osama Bin Laden?
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 5.19.11 @ 1:23PM
Osama Bin Laden bragged about it. If he wasn't in fact guilty, he was in fact stupid. Either way he got what was coming to his rotten a**.
fundamentalist| 5.19.11 @ 3:03PM
I don’t know if DSK is guilty, but I know there is a huge difference between a philanderer and a rapist. Rape is a special kind of evil. KSB has been accused of philandering, but not rape as far as I know.
k alongi| 5.20.11 @ 12:51AM
attempted rape - so he didn't get away with it .. but Sounds Like he tried apparantly. More details r in order - just how did he 'force'? But its really none of our concern (unless u get picked for jury).
Rich Rostrom| 5.19.11 @ 7:08PM
"KSB has been accused of philandering..."
KSB AG? (formerly Maschinen- & Armatur-Fabrik Klein, Schanzlin & Becker)
Kansas State Bank?
Kernel Socks Bouncer? (a Linux kernel module)
KiteSurfing Belize?
Kentucky School for the Blind?
U.S. Representative Kinsley Scott Bingham (D-MI, 1847-1851)?
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k alongi| 5.20.11 @ 12:48AM
Re Ben Stein's Presumed Innocent - Yes, we can assume he's innocent - but whenever one is charged, true or not, police have a job to do -& that unfortunately necessarily assumes the guilt of the person charged, in one sense. Presumed innocent until trial, but in case guilty, put in custody like every other criminal. The police probably cracked or broke my son's rib when they hauled him off the street for driving 3 blocks while a bit inebriated .. of course he was guilty - and seemed angry (so they were naturally wary) - just to say - the police have a job to do & its not an easy one.
I totally agree that the woman could be a total freak or liar or whatever; I also agree there should be a pattern - and there probably is one, hidden tho it may be. It will take some investigating, by better minds than ours. Let's let them do it, and put our minds on better things!
PolishKnight| 5.20.11 @ 9:33AM
Hmm, I'm amused that there seems to be a collision between the traditional notion of political conservatives as respecting wealthy, powerful men and a more working values segment that appears to be growing. At the turn of the previous century, leftism claimed to represent the common man.
For some time now, the Marxists of the left have been getting away with taking private jets and a seperate set of justice and rules for themselves and their right wing colleagues in government living similar lifestyles looked the other way while shoving us in front of the bus.
Bill openly acted like he should be allowed to sexually harass women and the feminists followed suit. This was just after the big noise made about it in the 90's. Remember those days? If a man said any small thing in those days, he was instantly fired. Today, you still have to watch what you say although it's not as bad.
This guy claims to represent the common man so it's appropriate that he go to prison and hang out with them for a while. Really. It's like Paris Hilton going to jail.
Robert Amaya| 5.23.11 @ 3:13AM
Spanish based law is like that. Mexico is one of them. Watch out south of the border.
http://www.articlespeak.com/ac.....us-review/