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Innocence of Muslims Filmmaker Arrested, Jailed

sycodon writes "Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the man behind the film Innocence of Muslims, has been arrested and jailed in Los Angeles for probation violations. The situation is a win-win for the Obama administration, who can now appear to be punishing the man whose film sparked protests and riots around the world, but at the same time simply enforcing the law, as all evidence indeed suggests Nakoula violated the terms of his probation."

747 comments

  1. not news for nerds, this does not matter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    do not care, why is this on slashdot?

    1. Re:not news for nerds, this does not matter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because you're a misanthropic, myopic waste of resources both scarce, renewable, and temporal, and a disappointment to those unlucky enough to have birthed you.

      More specifically, you failed to monitor the firehose and downvote the story.

  2. Why? by sunking2 · · Score: 4, Informative

    What does his apparently violating parole have at all to do with this site?

    1. Re:Why? by geoffrobinson · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Because it is quite likely that this arrest is about censorship to appease jihadists.

      --
      Except for ending slavery, the Nazis, communism, & securing American independence, war has never solved anything.
    2. Re:Why? by hazah · · Score: 1

      Because, once in a while, random bits of information, give us a hardon.

    3. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      this is not news for nerds.

    4. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What does his apparently violating parole have at all to do with this site?

      Because it's quasi-censorship in a truly American fashion. The government wanted to jail this guy for having an unpopular opinion, so they needed an excuse. And they found their excuse.

    5. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Good point. Normally they never arrest people for probation violations.

    6. Re:Why? by Jeng · · Score: 1

      Although I think that there is no problem with them posting the occasional general interest news story, that doesn't answer your question though.

      The reason this has been posted is because it involves some elements that create a lot of .........well not debate, I guess page views, and therefor it should be profitable for them to post it.

      --
      Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
    7. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      Because, once in a while, random bits of information, give us a hardon.

      1001100011010101100101000110111011101000111101011101000000111111

      There ya go, you pervert.

    8. Re:Why? by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Thank you. This is selective prosecution that wouldn't occur but for the outrage. As such it should be thrown out as government doesn't (in theory anyway) get to hold in reserve violations and then arrest when the person gets uppity in perfectly legal ways.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    9. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is unlikely. It is more likely that his celebrity status brought about his arrest. It is obvious that he violated his parole when he accessed the Internet and used aliases. Prosecutors and courts can't ignore that when it is pointed out by so many people. Whether this is fair or not is a separate question. But the likeliness of a witch-hunt ordered by the Executive Department is unlikely. It is simply a fact that if you are famous and then violate your parole then you will become a target of prosecutors and the courts.

    10. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It sounds like he certainly was caught because of the video, and I'm sure the administration was glad to hear it, but it's not as though it's an unfair censorship. I imagine it's unclear if the video even comes down over this.

      That said, it sucks that this will be interpreted as a win by the degenerate animals overseas.

    11. Re:Why? by cayenne8 · · Score: 0

      Because it is quite likely that this arrest is about censorship to appease jihadists.

      Indeed.

      Looking at the wikipedia link it says "Following a hearing before a judge, Nakoula was ordered to jail without bail on September 27, 2012, with the judge citing probation violations including lying to probation officials, "danger to the community", and "lack of trust in the defendant".....

      Ok, I can see lying to probation officials...I can see lack of trust..but danger to community???

      This guy exercises free speech, and now is accused of being a danger to his community because of how some insane extremists might react if someone sneezes and it sounds remotely like allah or muhamad or something else they hold sacred?

      And...while any probation violations are one thing...definitely prosecutable, the LAST thing we need our president doing, it even making the appearance of prosecuting this man over his film and the free speech rights that stand behind that!!!

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    12. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean someone violating their parole on multiple accounts, which is then thrust upon international stage and therefore into the sight of his parole officer and various authorities should be ignored simply because you disagree with external politics?

      Damned if you do...damned if you're on slashdot.

    13. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's literally impossible to use the internet without using an alias.

    14. Re:Why? by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      The government wanted to jail this guy for having an unpopular opinion...

      It would be bad enough if this was the case of this guy's opinion being unpopular here in the US....(and from what I can see, most in the US couldn't care less)

      But now...we worry about someone on US soil's opinion offending some radical idiots on the other side of the world??

      We shouldn't suppress anyone's views, if they are unpopular here...but we sure as shit shouldn't do it because it pisses off someone outside the US.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    15. Re:Why? by gstrickler · · Score: 1

      Had his violations been "harmless", it might not have been prosecuted. However, people have died as a result of his parole violations. Tell us again how this shouldn't be prosecuted?

      --
      make imaginary.friends COUNT=100 VISIBLE=false
    16. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      His parole terms specifically included that he not use a computer or the Internet without prior consent from his parole officer, that he not use an alias, and that he not lie to his parole officer.

      The ban on computer/Internet use as a term of parole would qualify as "News for Nerds".

    17. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Here's it for the heterosexuals;

      0110011100101010100110101110010001000101110000101000101111100000

    18. Re:Why? by Jeng · · Score: 2

      Ok, I can see lying to probation officials...I can see lack of trust..but danger to community???

      If I lived next to you and I did my best to inflame the drug cartels wouldn't you consider me a danger to the community?

      the LAST thing we need our president doing, it even making the appearance of prosecuting this man over his film

      I honestly have not been paying attention, what makes you think that Obama is behind his prosecution?

      --
      Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
    19. Re:Why? by fadethepolice · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Get off slashdot. The people that modded you insightful need to get off slashdot as well. Please stop astroturfing our website with you propaganda. This guy is an egyptian criminal who came here with an agenda. The video was popularized through his contacts in egypt to stir up hatred of americans. He is a foreign terrorist operative. Locking up foreign criminals who are purposely trying to get americans killed is not censorship. I repeat. Get off slashdot your opinions are not welcome here. I hate to say that, but I have seen several posts this week that are obviously repeating propaganda with no attachment to the reality of the situation.

    20. Re:Why? by lilfields · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Uhm, his video was distributed on the internet and no other medium....you don't think the curbing of free speech is a nerd issue? Not even when the internet is the primary pipeline of free speech? How would you like it if you posted a video on Youtube, or a post on Facebook that was very offensive. It offended your community, neighboring county (or country,) so instead of outright saying "we don't accept this free speech" you were arrested for an unpaid parking ticket or any other minor offense? Sort of a big fucking deal.

    21. Re:Why? by geoffrobinson · · Score: 5, Insightful

      His film killed no one. People reacting to the film may have. Most likely it wasn't over the film but an organized terrorist attack which had nothing to do with the film.

      --
      Except for ending slavery, the Nazis, communism, & securing American independence, war has never solved anything.
    22. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well then, I guess we better arrest the LA Lakers and Chicago bulls. Everytime they win a championship, it incites people to loot and riot!

    23. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      And if you were a probation officer, you would be allowed to not send your convict back to jail when they publicly broke the terms of their probation?

      There is no prosecution here, he's already convicted. He has to agree to probation terms to be freed on probation. He always had the option of refusing and being sent to jail to serve his time.

      He is in no way a free man being convicted of something new, he's a convict who is clearly not a model probationary candidate and he's heading to jail.

    24. Re:Why? by sunking2 · · Score: 1

      However signing employee's checks using one isn't all that common. The guy was convicted for some sort of bank fraud. And here he is writing fraudulent checks.

    25. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Had his violations been "harmless", it might not have been prosecuted. However, people have died as a result of his parole violations. Tell us again how this shouldn't be prosecuted?

      Y'know, you saying that pisses me off. It pisses me off so much that I just shot five co-workers and a sheriff*. Now your statement is not harmless, right?

      Oh, wait, I was the one who decided an appropriate reaction to somebody's speech was to inflict violence on third parties, that makes me, not you, the one who harmed them, and just because I choose to blame you doesn't make you culpable for acts you didn't commit. Funny how that works.

      *disclaimer: I actually didn't shoot my co-workers, the sherrif, nor the deputy.

    26. Re:Why? by xevioso · · Score: 4, Informative

      Screw yourself. Everyone has an agenda, and people are free to post here just as much as they are free to make a video calling Mohammed nasty things.

      He was arrested because he violated the terms of his probation by repeatedly giving false names to authorities, NOTHING MORE.

      he was not even arrested for getting on the internet, which was banned under his probation terms. he was arrested for ONE thing and ONE thing only, and it had nothing to do with the movie trailer.

    27. Re:Why? by mythosaz · · Score: 0

      "Fire!" in a crowded theater.

    28. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The freedom of speech has always been limited by the exception of speech intended to solely cause harm or public backlash (ie - yelling 'Fire' in a crowded theater, calling in bomb threats). The US government is putting the case forward that the film was not an attempt to express a controversial viewpoint as much as something meant entirely to inflame and incense a volatile situation.

      How this item made it onto Slashdot would probably be because the film was released online via YouTube, and the arrest of the filmmaker has clear online rights implications.

      BULLSHIT

      WTF?

      You're actually comparing religious satire with deliberately and immediately causing mayhem and probable death?

      How the hell is making fun of somebody who has been dead for more then a millennium not protected free speech?

      Does free speech mean ANYTHING to you or the morons who modded you up?

    29. Re:Why? by SirGarlon · · Score: 1

      The US government is putting the case forward that the film was not an attempt to express a controversial viewpoint as much as something meant entirely to inflame and incense a volatile situation.

      Citation needed. I am not aware the US government is prosecuting the film maker over the content of his film. Everything I've read relating to this story says the guy went into hiding with his family because he thought, with good reason, that some backward-ass barbaric sicko might try to kill him over it. (In fact, backward-ass barbaric sickos killed several other people over it.) Going into hiding violated the terms of his parole because he happens to have a rap sheet a mile long for check fraud and other low-grade scumbaggery.

      I'm not aware of the Feds having said anything about the content of the film being legally actionable. I think President Obama and Secretary Clinton said it's offensive and the government doesn't endorse it, but AFAIK that's the extent of Federal action regarding the film itself.

      --
      [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
    30. Re:Why? by geoffrobinson · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I'm not comfortable equating the Muslim world to a crowded theater. They have moral agency and the ability to control themselves.

      --
      Except for ending slavery, the Nazis, communism, & securing American independence, war has never solved anything.
    31. Re:Why? by twotacocombo · · Score: 1

      I seriously doubt the jihadists will be appeased merely by his temporary incarceration in an American jail.

    32. Re:Why? by fm6 · · Score: 1

      Because the Obama haters are everywhere, and will not be denied.

      I do wish we could get rid of this stupid "firehose" process for finding news. Or at least the editors could have the gumption to reject stupid stories that have somehow gone viral.

    33. Re:Why? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      The US government is putting the case forward that the film was not an attempt to express a controversial viewpoint as much as something meant entirely to inflame and incense a volatile situation.

      I thought he's arrested because he violated the terms of his probation, not because of any lawful limits on his freedom of speech per se. There's certainly nothing illegal about posting such a video in US.

    34. Re:Why? by Khyber · · Score: 1

      "His film killed no one."

      Try incitement to riot with manslaughter being the result. Clearly a probationary violation.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    35. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      They have moral agency and the ability to control themselves.

      Obviously they don't have the ability to control themselves.

        Stereotypes do exist for a reason, and each time something like this happens, it makes it more and more difficult for the 'good people' in any culture to overcome the jacknuts that bring them back weeks, years, decades.

    36. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Based on what evidence? The timing of arrest alone is not enough to say for sure. Look, this guy is a convict and parole violator and while violating his parole he did stupid (but not illegal) thing that drew attention to himself. Yes, law enforcement should have caught up with him earlier about the parole violations but the guy is still a criminal and I don't see how him exercising his first amendment rights should protect him from paying the price for his crimes. The fact that he's also a liar and known alias user is the legal reason he's getting harsher treatment.

    37. Re:Why? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      Get off slashdot your opinions are not welcome here.

      By whom?

      Regardless of whether the guy is right or wrong, your post unambiguously identifies you as a major asshole. If you feel so offended at reading comments defending him, why don't you get off Slashdot instead?

    38. Re:Why? by Khyber · · Score: 1

      Given what happened because of the film, I foresee manslaughter charges and incitement to riot charges being brought up.

      Not to mention the wrongful death lawsuit that will very likely be filed against him by the families of those killed thanks to this video and the subsequent reaction.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    39. Re:Why? by Doctor_Jest · · Score: 1

      not an attempt to express a controversial viewpoint as much as something meant entirely to inflame and incense a volatile situation

      No it wasn't. Not even close. The government, as usual, is full of shit and working the crowd, not doing what is right. Nowhere in that film does it say "Rise up! Kill Americans", which is the only possibility to equate this silly bit of digital film with yelling "fire!" in a crowded theater. So what if he knew the thin-skinned idiots in the Middle East would riot? (Let's be frank, the Libya incident has been proven to be something OTHER than the movie)...

      If someone gets offended enough to want to riot and kill, then that's their problem for not being a functioning adult. And causing public backlash isn't a criteria for restricting speech, because if so, the KKK or Black Panthers wouldn't be allowed to march, because clearly they do it to poke and prod. The difference is, civilized people aren't prone to ransacking KFC's and defacing embassies. Those that are get arrested. That's the difference between the civilized world and the world of Islam.

      --
      It's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
    40. Re:Why? by Khyber · · Score: 1

      "This guy exercises free speech"

      If you watched the video, you'd clearly see that this was designed to incite people.

      This was an incitement to riot. That is a danger to the community.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    41. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Hm, Julian Assange needs to insult some Muslims too, so that Americans can start defending him and he can blame any negative press on islamists. After all, WikiLeaks was defended on freedom of speech grounds back when a certain bank didn't like to be exposed...

    42. Re:Why? by amiga3D · · Score: 1

      Only their free speech. I don't think they give a shit about your free speech.

    43. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      s/jihadists/Obama's muslim buddies/

    44. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "His film killed no one."

      Try incitement to riot with manslaughter being the result. Clearly a probationary violation.

      "Mohammed was a child-raping murderous desert bandit who contrived a religion that would make his followers happy to die for him." Kind of a medieval L. Ron Hubbard.

      THAT historical truth is incitement to RIOT?

      So, when you going on a killing spree?

    45. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not the same as yelling fire in a theater. It's appeasing a radical group and bending to their will. Why is it ok to have publicly funded anti Christian "art" but it's a crime to have privately funded anti Muslim film? The answer: Christians won't kill people in protest. Muslims need to grow up and show us Islam is a religion that is peaceful and reasonable.

    46. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's not the point. Yeah, he committed some bank fraud. I'm just saying it's not realistic to impose those conditions on him so broadly.

      When you sign up for a website that asks you to use a screen name and that field is limited to maybe 10 characters, you're going to have to put something other than your real name down. So you either don't use the internet or you violate the terms of your probation even though you're doing something completely innocent.

    47. Re:Why? by interkin3tic · · Score: 1

      Is not applicable to the current situation.

    48. Re:Why? by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The US government is putting the case forward that the film was not an attempt to express a controversial viewpoint as much as something meant entirely to inflame and incense a volatile situation.

      No, it isn't, you fucking retard. How many times are you going to repeat that lie?

    49. Re:Why? by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 1

      Yup. He could've posted a hit viral video about trained chihuahuas juggling and he still would've gone to jail for parole violation.

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    50. Re:Why? by SuperKendall · · Score: 2

      If I lived next to you and I did my best to inflame the drug cartels wouldn't you consider me a danger to the community?

      Not unless the drug cartels were using Apple Maps.

      what makes you think that Obama is behind his prosecution?

      The fact that he has spoken at length in multiple speeches against this film, without one word in support of the concept that even hateful speech is Free Speech and protected in America.

      --
      "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    51. Re:Why? by tibman · · Score: 1

      hahah.. i had the image of someone watching that terrible movie and just as it ends they shout and stab the person next to them. Anyways, i don't think your example applies correctly here.

      --
      http://soylentnews.org/~tibman
    52. Re:Why? by TFAFalcon · · Score: 2

      So doing things that piss people off is now equal to inciting a riot? So if a new law causes a riot all the politicians that voted for it will be jailed?

    53. Re:Why? by TheCarp · · Score: 3, Insightful

      True but, I don't think this applies here. They were not holding violations in reserve, they simply did not know he was violating them. It wasn't until journalists investigated the source of the film, and made the trail back to him and a few accounts that it was known.

      Now I don't tend to like the form of these restrictions in general, and don't think this is the sort of thing that should land him in jail....except.... there are other violations.

      Its pretty clear that any agreement he had with the actors in the film, each and every one of them, was negotiated in bad faith. He lied to them about the nature of the film being released, at the very least they should have known this and been able to either refuse to have themselves associated with it, or demanded more money due to the risk involved. Smells like fraud to me.

      --
      "I opened my eyes, and everything went dark again"
    54. Re:Why? by xevioso · · Score: 2

      Danger to the community doesn't have to mean "Making a video likely to inflame others".

      It can just as easily mean "Giving false aliases whenever anyone at any time, including the Blockbuster video clerk, the bank teller, the bar bouncer asking for your ID, the state car registration authorities, or pretty much anyone legitimately asks, and EXPECTS, you to give them your real name."

      In fact, I can guarantee you that is what the judge means.

    55. Re:Why? by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      Only their free speech. I don't think they give a shit about your free speech.

      Hey, you can't say that!



      natch.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    56. Re:Why? by sunking2 · · Score: 1

      You're the one applying them broadly. The specifics of this case have nothing to do with what he uses for his gmail account, or how he was surfing the internet, or uploaded a movie to youtube. It has to do with very specific real world things. Like representing himself in an actual business venture as someone other than himself. Bank accounts under different names, etc. This is not broad at all. He had finances being managed under a different name. This clearly breaches his probation. Everything in the world doesn't have to do with the internet.

    57. Re:Why? by drkim · · Score: 2

      It's literally impossible to use the internet without using an alias.

      ...unless your Mom actually named you: "Anonymous Coward" !

    58. Re:Why? by DutchUncle · · Score: 4, Informative

      The government isn't "holding in reserve"; they made a CONTRACT, that he and his lawyer agreed to, for being let out of prison in exchange for behaving himself. As I read the article, part of the contract was that he not use the Internet and that he not use an alias or pseudonym. He has violated both of those. He would have been violating them even if all he posted was a funny cat video.

      As noted by others, this is *incredibly* convenient. If this video had been posted by someone with a clean record, then it would be a free speech issue. If the same person had created and posted it under his real name, it would still be a free speech issue and I'd hear debate on whether restricting internet access is realistic in this day and age. But because of the record, the government has totally clear reason to collect him without talking about the content at all. The probation contract makes it a very simple crime of fact, not of intent.

    59. Re:Why? by TFAFalcon · · Score: 2

      How does his arrest have rights implications? He violated parole. The fact that he published the film just made it very visible - I'm guessing his parole officer would have been unlikely to notice that he was using an alias if he hadn't done it in such a visible way.
      It's like a murderer releasing a video of his latest murder, after the victim was ruled a 'natural' death. He won't be arrested for posting the video, but for crimes made known BY the video.

    60. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is a masochistic way of thinking. It was organized by an outrage machine and carried on by people who had not even seen the film.

    61. Re:Why? by Sez+Zero · · Score: 1

      What does his apparently violating parole have at all to do with this site?

      Because the terms of "his probation terms specify he was not permitted to possess or use a device with access to the Internet without permission from his supervisor" (LATimes)?

      At the least he's an interesting character, because Prosecutors in the case aren't even sure of his real name, which he's changed several times.

      It looks like his maximum sentence is 24 months, so more interesting will be to see what he actually gets if convicted.

    62. Re:Why? by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 0

      I'm not comfortable equating the Muslim world to a crowded theater. They have moral agency and the ability to control themselves.

      Really? I see no evidence that they can control themselves. This isn't the first time they've "gone Muslim" over a film.

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
    63. Re:Why? by xevioso · · Score: 1

      The difference is that Muslims don't have to riot.

      If I yell "Fire", a rational person will try to leave a theater quickly, possibly causing injuries to others. If I don't leave the theater, I could die to the fire.

      If I yell "Mohammed liked a good pork BBQ brisket", and you are a Muslim, you don't HAVE to riot in the streets. Your life is not in danger.

      The proof of this is that Christians don't riot when others make fun of Jesus. There is nothing that makes them riot.

    64. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Try incitement to riot with manslaughter being the result. Clearly a probationary violation.

      Actually the violation was due to him using the Internet, which was a breach of his terms.

      Y'know... sometimes you can just take the facts at face value. He broke the terms of his bail, he got arrested. Just like anyone else would've done.

    65. Re:Why? by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

      Someone might slip in the pool of blood and guts he's likely to become soon.

    66. Re:Why? by s.petry · · Score: 1

      Because it's a political topic that will generate lots of traffic, but I'm guessing you knew that and your question was simply rhetorical.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    67. Re:Why? by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

      In a way making the film WAS the illegal thing he did, since he made it under an alias, thereby violating his parole.

    68. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Incitement to riot, eh?

      Muhammad was a pedophile.

      There, I also just incited a riot. Did I not?

    69. Re:Why? by xevioso · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Baloney. He was arrested because he lied, repeatedly, to the authorities. He is a pathological liar. Or are you forgetting the part about how he was tried and convicted of bank fraud?

      Courts deal with these people all the time, and the fact was this was the tipping point for them to throw the book at him. Had nothing to do with his video.

    70. Re:Why? by hazah · · Score: 1

      Not the same thing in the slightest. Yelling fire will induce panick. This movie was watched at each individual's leasure.

    71. Re:Why? by DutchUncle · · Score: 1

      >>> Ok, I can see lying to probation officials...I can see lack of trust..but danger to community???

      Legal boilerplate. What's more important is his probation contract specifically forbade using an alias, and he did business under a pseudonym, so he's in violation of his probation. It's not "just a technicality", any more than it's a technicality if you leave your car at a parking meter longer than the time you paid for and you get a parking ticket. It's a simple matter of fact - contract says don't do that, he did it, he can get locked up. If he were a Hollywood starlet maybe he'd get out of it. :-)

    72. Re:Why? by hazah · · Score: 2

      Yes, these people clearly had no choice but to kill a human being because they watched a video.

    73. Re:Why? by DragonWriter · · Score: 2

      Ok, I can see lying to probation officials...I can see lack of trust..but danger to community???

      Wikipedia is notoriously unreliable on very current events, and this is a good example.

      "Lying to probation officials" is one of the probation violations at issue.

      "Lack of trust" and "danger to the community" are not violations at issue, they are the basis for the decision not to set bail.

      This guy exercises free speech

      Posting a video online in a manner which would violate the terms of his probation is not an exercise of free speech. Nor are the violations actually charged, which occurred during the investigation of whether or not he was the person who posted the video, which would have violated the terms of his probation.

      This guy exercises free speech, and now is accused of being a danger to his community because of how some insane extremists might react

      No, a convicted fraudster is considered a untrustworthy regarding promises to appear and a danger to the community based on his history of frauds, and the apparent additional deceptions he committed when questioned about law enforcement
      about his possible involvement in an act which may have involved additional frauds and which would also, frauds aside, have violated his probation for his past frauds in at least two respects -- one by use of the internet without approval of his probation officer, and another by using a name other than his true legal name.

    74. Re:Why? by Khyber · · Score: 2

      "It was organized by an outrage machine and carried on by people who had not even seen the film."

      That's how a LOT of riots happen, actually. Outrage machine, a bunch of ignorant people that never saw/heard and just jumped on the bandwagon.

      Live in LA sometime.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    75. Re:Why? by Khyber · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "these people clearly had no choice"

      I see you fail to understand what incite means and implies - choice included.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    76. Re:Why? by 1u3hr · · Score: 1

      The US government is putting the case forward that the film was not an attempt to express a controversial viewpoint as much as something meant entirely to inflame and incense a volatile situation.

      He hasn't been charged with any offences due to the nature of the film. Only his violations of parole. The government hasn't had the film taken down. So you appear to be just making stuff up completely.

    77. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I see no evidence that they can control themselves

      Yes, you do. You see it each and every day when the overwhelming majority of Muslims do nothing whatsoever to harm anyone. You see that evidence, you consciously process it, and you willingly choose to disregard it because it interferes with the comforting lies you want to tell yourself.

    78. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ehhhh - wrong

      None of his actions caused any deaths, anywhere.

      Other people's actions that they themselves chose to do for whatever reason, caused the deaths.

      This person is NOT responsible in any way shape or form.

      The thought that they choose to use this as an excuse to re-imprison him is reprehensible.

      The only people responsible for the deaths are those who killed the people. Period, end of the fucking discussion.

      No one, no matter what they do, can be held liable for *causing* someone else to kill someone by making a movie or writing a book, or making a video game.

      It's called personal responsibility for a reason.

      You can try and blame someone else, like these fucking morons are trying to do, but in the end, only the person or persons who chose to kill those people are responsible for their actions.

    79. Re:Why? by Khyber · · Score: 1

      "So if a new law causes a riot all the politicians that voted for it will be jailed?"

      No, because of immunity granted in the constitution for lawmaking process.

      "So doing things that piss people off is now equal to inciting a riot?"

      Given the specific nature and intended target demographic of the video, YES.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    80. Re:Why? by SecurityTheatre · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I will be extremely disturbed if making inflammatory videos within the borders of the United States or other western countries is made illegal, regardless of the content.

      I mean this unequivocally, irrevocably and without reservation, in the spirit of protecting freedom. It's not one of those things that can have a "but maybe when" clause.

      Criticism of a religion or political viewpoint, or otherwise CANNOT be viewed as a crime, regardless of how insane the targets of said video are. A radio commentator made a good point the other day when discussing with a muslim cleric. There was a Canadian Muslim who made a comparably incendiary video about Christians. It prompted... get this... a letter to the editor...

      There are plenty of equally incendiary videos about Jews. They waive their hands in the air and say "OYE!".

      Just because the islamists over in Africa completely freak out and use such things as a flimsy excuse for pursuing sectarian violence against perceived slights doesn't make them right, nor does it make the act illegal.

      The guys video was nasty. It was inappropriate. It was seriously morally problematic. But it was NOT illegal.

    81. Re:Why? by hazah · · Score: 1

      And that would be a true shame if that happened. You're an apologist for people who have taken it upon themselves to take another human being's life. They made the choice, and they didn't have to. All they had was nothing more than a video produced by someone who has nothing to do with the people they murdered. Here you are blaming a person over half a planet away from the incident for it. Good job. I hope I never meet you, you make me sick.

    82. Re:Why? by cayenne8 · · Score: 2

      It can just as easily mean "Giving false aliases whenever anyone at any time, including the Blockbuster video clerk...

      While I understand in this guys case...due to his probation, that giving a false alias was not legal for him.....if this wasn't the case, as long as he wasn't giving this out to police officers investigating a crime, etc.....giving false aliases isn't illegal in general...??

      I mean, I can't think of many times it is actually illegal to not give your real name, but even to give a false one.

      Maybe I missing something, but except for a few cases (one of them apparently being on probation for fraud)....is it really illegal for you to give a false name? I do it all the time with regard to those store customer loyalty cards they used to give out....on internet polls....basically any time I don't want anyone putting me on a phone or mailing list....etc

      Hell....My idea of commitment to a woman...is finally telling her my REAL name....

      :)

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
    83. Re:Why? by s.petry · · Score: 1

      False dichotomy. Is it insulting, sure. So are jokes regarding ethnicity or religion, but we hear them and generally laugh. Political satire could also be seen as insulting to a political belief, but we use this humor for positive purposes generally.

      Should you prosecute someone for making a very poor quality 14 minute clip that attempts to insult someone? Or should you laugh at them for being such a poor character, and having absolutely poor video editing skills? The latter is the societal normal treatment, and of course they should never be given a job in Hollywood or Bollywood since they lack any technical skills.

      Are you gullible enough to believe that this person is just a huge jerk, or do you have enough sense to see that this video may have been generated intentionally as propaganda to cover up what is really happening in politics overseas. I'm not a fan of beating the scape goat, I'd rather beat the real perpetrators.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    84. Re:Why? by hazah · · Score: 1

      LOL, thanks :)

    85. Re:Why? by Khyber · · Score: 1

      If you yell 'fire' a *RATIONAL* person would look for the fire and then find a route to get away from it. If no fire is present and no signs of such can be detected (smell, sight of smoke/flames, rising temperatures) a rational person will take it as someone talking garbage and simply say "Shut your lying whore mouth" and get back to what they were doing originally.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    86. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Good to see that the tax dollar is not being wasted on the propaganda, and that the propaganda works so well.

    87. Re:Why? by SecurityTheatre · · Score: 1

      Nothing makes ME think Obama is behind this arrest, but it is still topical to mention what you think he should be doing about it, especially since the summary said:

      "The situation is a win-win for the Obama administration, who can now appear to be punishing the man ..."

    88. Re:Why? by amicusNYCL · · Score: 5, Insightful

      How would you like it if you posted a video on Youtube, or a post on Facebook that was very offensive. It offended your community, neighboring county (or country,) so instead of outright saying "we don't accept this free speech" you were arrested for an unpaid parking ticket or any other minor offense? Sort of a big fucking deal.

      A big fucking deal? How about a stupid fucking analogy? The terms of his 5-year probation strictly said that he was not to use a computer without approval, and that he was not to use an alias without approval. He did both, and nearly immediately after he was released. That means he violated his probation, and that means he gets sent back to the pokey. That's not an "unpaid parking ticket or any other minor offense". The judge gave him specific terms, specific actions that he no longer had the privilege of doing, and he responded by saying FU and doing those things anyway. This is not a rights issue, this is a minor non-issue about some asshole who can't bother to live his life without committing a crime and now he gets to go back to jail. This happens every day across the country. The only reason we are hearing about it in this case is because now it is happening to a man who was in the headlines recently for pissing off a large chunk of the world. That's not what he's being arrested for, that's just the reason why his arrest is news.

      So, here's the real question - should this long-term criminal get a free pass for violating his probation because of the video he produced? Does that video and the subsequent response and coverage of it warrant a Get Out Of Jail Free card?

      The Daily Beast reported that Nakoula was arrested by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department in 1997 after being pulled over and found to be in possession of ephedrine, hydroiodic acid, and $45,000 in cash; he was charged with intent to manufacture methamphetamine. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced in 1997 to one year in Los Angeles County Jail and three years probation. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney, he violated probation in 2002 and was re-sentenced to another year in county jail.

      In 2010, Nakoula pleaded no contest to federal charges of bank fraud in California. Nakoula had opened bank accounts using fake names and stolen Social Security numbers, including one belonging to a 6-year-old child, and deposited checks from those accounts to withdraw at ATMs. The prosecutor described the scheme as check kiting, "You try to get the money out of the bank before the bank realizes they are drawn from a fraudulent account. There basically is no money," she said. Nakoula’s June 2010 sentencing transcript shows that after being arrested, he testified against an alleged ring leader of the fraud scheme, in exchange for a lighter sentence. He was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison, followed by five years probation (supervised release), and ordered to pay $794,701 in restitution. He was sent to prison, then to a halfway house, and was released from custody in June 2011. A few weeks later, he began working on Innocence of Muslims. Conditions of Nakoula's probation include not using aliases and not using the Internet without prior approval from his probation officer.

      Please explain again the "chilling effects" that this arrest is going to have on my rights, and why this idiot deserves to get a free pass.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    89. Re:Why? by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I see no evidence that they can control themselves.

      There are a few who can't, and that's their problem.

      Of course, your comment might make me go berserk and murder countless innocents. When that happens, it's on you.

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    90. Re:Why? by ZombieBraintrust · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Unpopular speach is not yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater. A crowd that exits a theater quickly is behaving rationally based on deception. There is no choice to stay in the burning theater. The people who rioted in the middle east did so because they chose too. The did so because they were encouraged to riot by their leaders. Billions of people chose to do nothing when they learned of his video.

    91. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      More likely it is about an ex-con who had been violating his parole and then did stuff, essentially screaming "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!!!"

      Not something most folks tend to do if they are trying to avoid getting noticed and caught for their violations.

    92. Re:Why? by MrEricSir · · Score: 3, Informative

      Had his violations been "harmless", it might not have been prosecuted. However, people have died as a result of his parole violations. Tell us again how this shouldn't be prosecuted?

      You do realize "The Ring" is fiction, right? In real life, videos can't kill.

      --
      There's no -1 for "I don't get it."
    93. Re:Why? by jsh1972 · · Score: 2

      the way I understand it is that prior to the film or any of this he was on probation, one of the conditions of which was no computer or internet access, so even the fact of him producing it was in violation. When you are convicted of crimes, you lose certain rights, such as the right to vote or bear arms. It's not curbing of free speech until normal citizens who aren't on any form of community supervision, probation, or parole are prohibited from producing and/or distributing films due to content.

    94. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No it isn't, and in any case he was also forbidden from using the internet.

    95. Re:Why? by vux984 · · Score: 1

      Yelling fire will induce panick.

      Actually, odds are it won't. It might. But there's no certainty. I've been in lots of places including places that are dark and crowded where someone has yelled fire to be "clever" or even pulled the fire alarm.

      So far the crowd has never once trampled anyone to death or even paniced. Usually they just get a bit more restless as people try to determine if its real, and then either the false alarm is stopped... and in one case to everyone's surprise the fire alarms were in fact real, and people filed out relatively orderly.

      Shouting fire in a crowded theatre isn't nearly as "dangerous" or "reckless" as you might think.

    96. Re:Why? by hazah · · Score: 1

      There's a vast difference in inciting a whole population and giving an excuse to a few sick individuals. You're simply stating that it didn't take much encouragment to begin with, and that doesn't paint the picture in prettier colours. Thanks for reinforcing my point though, it's clear that the murderers were lying in wait, waiting for an opportunity to strike, and they used it. The vast majority did nothing more than simply protest and go home, which was expected by anyone with more than two neurons in their grey matter.

    97. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because talking out of both sides of your mouth can be extremely handy to a politician.

    98. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "these people clearly had no choice"

      I see you fail to understand what incite means and implies - choice included.

      Clue me in one what color the sky is on your planet where satirizing a religious figure who's been dead for 1300 years or so is incitement to violence.

      Cuz you ain't living on a world with a blue sky.

      PS - I think it's funny as hell how you've managed to ignore so much "incitement" to violence in all this thread. So here's some more:

      MOHAMMED RAPED A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL!!!!

      I can't wait for you to turn into a splodeydope because of that.

    99. Re:Why? by hazah · · Score: 1

      While you are mostly correct, it really wasn't my point. I am referring to the immediacy of the situation. The idea is that in one situation there's a real possibility for immediate danger, the second situation is just so rediculously the opposite but here we are comparing and contrasting because it's appearantly not obvious.

    100. Re:Why? by cheekyjohnson · · Score: 1

      ie - yelling 'Fire' in a crowded theater, calling in bomb threats

      No matter what he was thinking or feeling at the time, the people who were violent are the ones who are the murderers. He did nothing to control them, and laws like that only seek to blame someone for other people's weak-mindedness. I suppose religions cannot be criticized because some people that are part of them are violent...

      --
      Filthy, filthy copyrapists!
    101. Re:Why? by sycodon · · Score: 3, Interesting

      This is why I submitted this.

      It's clear that Nakoula has been in violation of his parole conditions for quite a while if you consider the amount of time it takes to make a movie (even a crappy, amateurish one), edit, etc. One has to wonder that if he had made a movie about butterflies, would he be in jail right now? I bet not.

      But the Administration saw an opportunity to make it appear to the savages that he's "doing something" about the blasphemer but at the same time be technically absolved of that charge.

      We all know how easy it is to gen up some kind of violation that can put someone in jail over night or even longer. Will this be done more often in the future just to placate the batshit crazy Arabs?

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    102. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You see it each and every day when the overwhelming majority of Muslims do nothing whatsoever to harm anyone. You see that evidence, you consciously process it, and you willingly choose to disregard it

      And we're seeing it right now where the overwhelming majority of Muslims are doing nothing whatsoever to harm anyone, despite the movie.

      It's not the movie's fault, AND not all Muslims are bloodthirsty savages who can't control themselves.

    103. Re:Why? by Kreigaffe · · Score: 4, Interesting

      That is them controlling themselves.

      You are assuming that 'control themselves' means 'do not kill people for stupid reasons'. Stop projecting your Western morality on them. That is bad, and wrong.

      This little movie wasn't a flash point that made them so raging mad they lost control of themselves and went into a psychotic rage. They don't regret having acting badly, because the ones who acted badly do not see what they did as acting badly. They consider their actions to be righteous and not only justified, but MANDATORY.

      Yes, not all Muslims feel that way. Some are sane. Many are not, and do wonderful things like stone rape VICTIMS to death.

      If you want to begin to understand the Muslim world, first understand the Salem witch trials. That sort of thing goes on across the Muslim world -- people being executed based on unverified hearsay from a single person. Salem was an aberration. It's institutionalized in the Muslim world, it's just How Things Work.

      Your concept of being in control would be being able to stop yourself from acting badly. Their concept of being in control would be the same, but their concept of acting badly would be to NOT murder people.

      That's really the problem. And I feel real bad for the sane Muslims living in those countries, the ones who actually have respect for human life and freedoms, because those people DO still exist. They can't speak up. They can't speak out. Imagine, if you will, if the Westboro Baptists and the KKK were predominant across the US, maybe not a majority but certainly numerous. Imagine if the government was complicit. Imagine if both groups were not just hateful, but violently hateful (KKK today doesn't tend to commit violence, but they sure used to). Imagine if the government purported to agree and support actions against minorities and homosexuals because of some Divine Mandate -- and in reality the government was using these hateful crowds as a form of easy control over the population, an easy way to wield power over dissenting opinions.

      That's really why this continues to happen. If someone were to say "Hey, maybe we shouldn't kill these people..", suddenly they are the blasphemer, suddenly it's their head on the block. If someone were to say "Hey, maybe the government shouldn't let this happen..", suddenly they are the blasphemer. If the government were to say "Hey, maybe you shouldn't do that guys, c'mon now", same deal. Ride the tiger.

      --
      ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
    104. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're actually comparing religious satire with deliberately and immediately causing mayhem and probable death?

      After the Koran burning incident? The Swedish cartoon? This is a fair comparison to discuss. I'm not sure if I would push it that far, as this has very far reaching implications about satire. It's clear to me though that the parole violation is just a pretense, and that's downright wrong. If the government is willing to go down this path, then they should be willing to be open and honest about their intentions.

    105. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They have moral agency and the ability to control themselves.

      Children are dependent on others for this ability, if they are not taught self-discipline.

    106. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, that's the part that pisses me off the most.

      WHY are we appeasing the jihadists? I mean... this is like giving a cat a treat after it tears apart your curtains. It's just going to think that was a good thing. Now the leaders of the extremists will be thinking "Well look at that, we go and throw a tantrum and murder a few dozen people, and we get our way. Next thing to do is kill another few dozen people, and we'll get our way again! Look at this, we do our extreme thing, and the USA caves and gives in. We'd be stupid NOT to go and murder people indiscriminantly again."

      What the USA SHOULD have done is made a big spectacle about locating him, finding him in violatino, and THEN letting him go with MAYBE a warning tops. That would at least send the message of 'we don't cave in to terrorists'.

      Except of course for the whole fact that the USA does nothing BUT cave in to terrorists, but that's besides the point.

    107. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Legally there is a requirement of time and space with such accusations. This fails both common tests. Only an idiot would presume his film is "fire" in a crowded theater.

    108. Re:Why? by Khyber · · Score: 1

      Look at the anonymous coward that doesn't have a clue.

      No logic skill, I see.

      Think about the intended target demographic of this film. Think about the way this person went about constructing it, its message, and then releasing it to a group of people known for being volatile when it comes to their religious beliefs, which was part of that message.

      To think that there was no intent to cause such a reaction is absolutely foolish.

      How's that pink elephant working out for you?

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    109. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it is sad but true. the ultimate reality is that you can only say what 'the man' allows you to say. in the case of yelling 'Fire' or calling in bomb threats, it is obvious to us that those things should not be tolerated due to the obvious harm they would cause. however, this idea of limiting freedom of speech for 'the good and protection of the people' can so easily be applied to anything. if several more 'film makers' release videos such as 'The Innocence of Muslims' and each time it causes the same kind of violence, how is it any different than yelling 'Fire' in a crowded theater?
      even if we manage to 'protect' a certain right such as freedom of speech, 'the man' will make you pay in other ways. the government could never convict al capone for his most heinous crimes. so they took another tack. they nailed him for tax evasion.

    110. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not the same thing in the slightest. Yelling fire will induce panick. This movie was watched at each individual's leasure.

      Watched at their leisure... in a country that has probably suffered at the hands of US aggression and control, possibly very recently, and has good reason to be concerned about how they and their religion are being portrayed by a nation that often attacks other countries because "they are full of weak towel-heads and they have loads of oil we want!!" as shown on your very own news channels extremely often...

      Panic is actually a very rational reaction when you have an enemy that is known to use disproportionate force on civilians, currently involved in what looks like a massive dis-information operation about the 'primitives in the middle-east', and looks to be gearing up for another war on one of your neighbours very soon.

      All that said though - a couple of thousand people rioting, out of a few billion Muslims is barely worth mentioning - unless you want to portray the whole religion as something they are not....

    111. Re:Why? by butchersong · · Score: 1

      I really hope you aren't a US citizen. If you are (please don't take this the wrong way) you consider reading some Thomas Paine and reviewing the US constitution. His making a video cannot be used against him in any way. Apperantly using a computer or having someone use a computer on his behalf was a violation of his parole. That is it. He can make 100 such videos if he likes. Anyone can.

    112. Re:Why? by vux984 · · Score: 1

      And my point is that the "Fire!" scenario is not nearly the cause for immediate danger some think. To the degree that I argue a rational person would actually find it more likely that publicly releasing a mockery video of Mohammed would lead to violence than falsely yelling fire in a theatre.

      Neither is a direct cause for immediate danger; and in both cases individuals can decide for themselves how to act. Yelling fire in a theatre doesn't create violence any more or any less than tweeting a message to kill jews or releasing a video mocking Mohammed does.

      You are arguing that they are different because yelling fire falsely is somehow "obviously" more dangerous, and more reckless. It's not.

      But if falsely yelling "fire!" in a theatre is the threshold for which we state that "reasonable people should know better and not do it" then that argument applies equally to releasing videos mocking Mohammed too. It was no less reckless and stupid; and like falsely yelling fire, it was done to provoke a mob response.

      It is not unreasonable to treat it the same way.

    113. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I will be extremely disturbed if making inflammatory videos within the borders of the United States or other western countries is made illegal, regardless of the content.

      Not everyone in the USA agrees on God, but there is almost no one who does not invoke the First Amendment as if it could protect them from just about anything. There are people in this country that hate fascists with the very core of their being who at the same time, take great pride in the fact that no one goes to jail for displaying swastikas.

      I wouldn't worry about something like this being outlawed. It's way too obvious a violation of free speech.

    114. Re:Why? by readin · · Score: 2

      I hope most Americans haven't sunk so low that we'll give up our freedom of speech so easily. We've given up so many freedoms for various reasons - the freedom to choose who we hire and fire, the freedom to choose who we rent apartments too, the freedom to get a new job without notifying the authorities, the freedom to choose whether to allow smoking inside private businesses. In most cases many of us would behave consistent with what the laws says we must do anyway, but we still know the chains are there and the chafe us.

      Freedom of speech is even more fundamental. Indeed it is almost as important as that bedrock of all freedoms, freedom of religion. That someone would willingly surrender our freedom of religion because of how some evil people ten thousand miles away react is beyond comprehension or description. .

      --
      I often don't like the choices people make, but I like the fact that people make choices. That's why I'm a conservative.
    115. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ^^This

      I was a juror last year in a sexual predator case. What was the specific charge the guy was on trial for? VOP as in Violation of Parole.
      I know someone who went to jail here in california. Guess what he went in for. Originally arrested for drug posession he got nailed for VOP.

      This is pretty much how most people, who aren't chrged for serious violent crimes, actually get locked up here in California, or any other state for that matter. VOP

      Truthfully, if the whole media fiasco with the film hadn't happened, He wouldn't have been busted for VOP. But as it is, that's why he is jailed, not some appeasement bullshit.

    116. Re:Why? by rohan972 · · Score: 3, Informative

      You don't get charged with incitement to riot for insulting any other religion. I was sent to a religious school. I defaced the "Holy text" it was compulsory to possess, as did other students. I wasn't killed, beaten or tortured. I wasn't punished at all, they never even spoke to me about it. If the people of that religion can take it then so can Muslims. The video did not cause the riots. Making the video is not incitement. Calling on your followers to riot because of a video is incitement.

      People who go on deadly riots in response to insults should be given overwhelming violence rather than appeasement. Concessions can be made to those who were offended but decide to talk about it instead of going on the rampage.

    117. Re:Why? by hazah · · Score: 1

      I don't know why you're so hung up on the scenario itself, as it was illustrative only. Replace it with any scenario that you could think of where immediate danger is real, and then we're back to my point. As it stands, you're not arguing with what I said, you're on a different tangent altogether.

    118. Re:Why? by Kreigaffe · · Score: 1

      NOPE! Haha, you're an idiot, jesus fucking christ. The fuck, I hope you're just a poor troll and not HONESTLY this goddamned stupid.

      I sadly suspect you are actually this goddamned stupid.

      QUICK! Better go kill someone and blame it on me insulting you! Then figure out how to put the blame on me! GLWT

      --
      ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
    119. Re:Why? by readin · · Score: 1

      The government isn't "holding in reserve"; they made a CONTRACT, that he and his lawyer agreed to, for being let out of prison in exchange for behaving himself. As I read the article, part of the contract was that he not use the Internet and that he not use an alias or pseudonym. He has violated both of those. He would have been violating them even if all he posted was a funny cat video.

      Didn't one of Obama's relatives make a contract with the INS and then violate it? Has that relative been arrested?

      --
      I often don't like the choices people make, but I like the fact that people make choices. That's why I'm a conservative.
    120. Re:Why? by Kreigaffe · · Score: 1

      By your jackassed logic, being black in the Antebellum South was incitement to commit murder, and it would be the black person's fault for being killed, not the white racists who strung them up by a tree.

      --
      ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
    121. Re:Why? by Kreigaffe · · Score: 1

      Part of this probation terms was that he was not to use computers or the internet without prior approval from his parole officer.

      If he was signing up for that website you talk about, he would have needed to get prior approval to do so -- that approval, I am imagining, would have included the necessity of reporting his user name if such a thing was necessary for the site.

      --
      ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
    122. Re:Why? by readin · · Score: 1

      True but, I don't think this applies here. They were not holding violations in reserve, they simply did not know he was violating them. It wasn't until journalists investigated the source of the film, and made the trail back to him and a few accounts that it was known.

      Didn't a similar thing happen with one of Obama's relatives who is in America illegally? When he ran for president and won, journalists investigated and found that the relative was violating America's laws. Well, I didn't think that relative should have been singled out for having an incompetent presidential relative. Similarly, this guy shouldn't be singled out for having exercised his freedom of speech. The government is going after him because they don't like what he said, not for what he did. Had the video been anything else there would have been no investigation.

      --
      I often don't like the choices people make, but I like the fact that people make choices. That's why I'm a conservative.
    123. Re:Why? by hazah · · Score: 1

      There's not a man on this planet without a chip on his shoulder, yet we celebrate our restraint. Being oppressed is no excuse for random murder, and niether are hurt feelings. Not sure what your last sentence is referring to, but I've been pretty clear that I concider this an act of a few individuals, not of any group.

    124. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He gave a false name to a judge during his own trial - that would be the one real occasion where giving a false name is illegal. At the very least it's perjury - maybe there actual laws about pretending to be someone else during your own trial as well?

    125. Re:Why? by Jeng · · Score: 1

      And we all know how highly accurate slashdot summaries are.

      After doing a little looking this is what Obama has said regarding this incident.

      http://news.yahoo.com/obama-condemns-violence-tied-anti-muslim-film-145204587--election.html

      President Barack Obama is condemning an anti-Muslim film and the violence in the Middle East that has followed its release, saying there is "no speech that justifies mindless violence."

      Obama says in a speech Tuesday before the U.N. General Assembly that "there are no words that excuse the killing of innocent" and "no video that justifies an attack on an embassy."

      Obama says the video "is an insult not only to Muslims, but to America as well."

      The president was speaking in the aftermath of violent protests in the Middle East and North Africa connected to the release of an anti-Muslim video produced in the United States.

      Now for whatever reason the group think seems to be that Obama is doing his best to prosecute this without actually prosecuting this. That is complete bullshit, just look at that asshole preacher who got a bunch of innocent people killed by burning a koran, do you see his ass in jail? Btw, that pastor is doing his best to inflame this issue also.

      --
      Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
    126. Re:Why? by James+McGuigan · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There where two "crimes".

      The first was a political crime, that of creating a US foreign policy issue through a youtube movie. This according to the 1st amendment and the letter of US law is not a "crime".

      The second crime was the violation of the terms of his parole, this is the "technical law" that they arrested him under.

      The US Administration decided it was politically expedient to have this man in jail for his "political crime". The technical method of achieving this goal, as they are only allowed to wield their power according to the "letter of the law", they hired a detective to dig up the dirt on him and "find a law" which which to charge him. Had his film not caused the diplomatic incident, he probably would have flown under the radar and not been noticed by the authorities, and thus still be a free man.

      This is in some ways similar to Julian Assange... his "political crime" was wikileaks, so they dug up his past and thus he was technically arrested on "suspicion of rape".

      The Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei was charged with tax evasion.

      The "chilling effect" is that in a society where a possibly significant percentage of the population are "technically" in violation of the law, but the law in many cases is not strictly enforced, then this allows the government to effectively arrest people guilty of "political crimes" through the selective enforcement of the "other" laws.

      The moral of the story is that if you are planning on creating a diplomatic incident or significantly challenging or embarrassing the political establishment, then you better have a squeaky clean past and not expose yourself to any legal liabilities by "technically" breaking the law. Once you are in the spotlight, the normal rules of flying under the radar no longer apply and if the government can find any dirt on you, and they will be suddenly be looking closely for it, they will find a way to make it stick.

    127. Re:Why? by vux984 · · Score: 1

      Replace it with any scenario that you could think of where immediate danger is real

      I can't. Perhaps there isn't one. The "Fire! in a theatre" scenario is the appropriate scenario, because the potential for danger is well understood.

      We can imagine that falsely yelling fire would cause a panic, and we can imagine that a panic could lead to violence. That unlikely but easily imaginable outcome has served us for a long time as the canonical example for where we have argued one's right to free speech should be curtailed.

      Here we have a situation where again we can easily imagine releasing this video would cause outrage and even violence, and we can even reasonably speculate that this was precisely the desired outcome.

    128. Re:Why? by gparent · · Score: 1

      The mentioned violations appear to be using the internet and using an alias. Unless he plotted to get someone killed by a few retarded muslims as a result of a video, it's safe to say that his actions didn't kill anything except some fuckerlords' common sense.

    129. Re:Why? by Straif · · Score: 1

      For one, it's hard to be charged with a crime in the US for actions others take in another country. For another the only death I know of that were linked to the riots was one protestor who suffocated on smoke from a flag he was burning.

      Despite repeated statements from the current US administration the attack in Libya had absolutely no connection to the video as there was no protest present at the consulate. The attack that resulted in American deaths was a terrorist attack specifically designed to occur on 9/11 and was even predicted by Libyan officials days before it happened. No one in the State dept. took any action after the Libyan warnings so if any wrongful death suits are brought they will most likely be Families vs. Govt. of the United States.

      --
      Of course that's just my opinion...... you could be wrong!
    130. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are arguing that they are different because yelling fire falsely is somehow "obviously" more dangerous, and more reckless. It's not.

      But it is. A rational person would not think like you. It's obvious to us because you're being overly pedant about this bullshit, but 99% of people would never make the comparison between the video and yelling fire.

    131. Re:Why? by LocalH · · Score: 1

      The fact that he has spoken at length in multiple speeches against this film, without one word in support of the concept that even hateful speech is Free Speech and protected in America.

      He didn't?

      --
      FC Closer
    132. Re:Why? by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 1

      I have no problem with any of that.

      You people are missing the point -- they wouldn't be arresting him for technicalities like minor parole violations except for the consequences of his exercising free speech.

      That should scare the holy fucking hell out of people in a free society. Government doesn't get to do that.

      --
      (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
    133. Re:Why? by gstrickler · · Score: 1

      It's called "reckless disregard". He knew the film would create outrage and protests that could endanger others.

      He used aliases (in violation of his probation) in making the film because he knew using his own name would be an impediment to making it. He distributed it via the internet (again, in violation of his probation) knowing that would reach a wider audience, including those he knew he was offending.

      The results of his actions were reasonably predictable, and he took them anyway, and violated two conditions of his probation to achieve that result. Whether or not he can be held accountable for negligence, the fact is that if he hadn't violated his probation, a number of people would still be alive. His actions did result is harm to, and deaths of, others.

      --
      make imaginary.friends COUNT=100 VISIBLE=false
    134. Re:Why? by dkleinsc · · Score: 1

      Yes, because a few thousand people is always representative of a religion with roughly 1 billion followers.

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    135. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The US has been meddling in the internal affairs of other countries all over the world for decades. Propping up dictators, spying, influencing foreign elections, and murdering millions of innocent people from Vietnam and Cambodia to Central America and the Middle East. If the US just kept to itself like China or almost every other country on the planet, then yes, you shouldn't care what people outside the US think. But because of its history of intensive meddling, you should care. Billions upon billions of YOUR tax dollars are at work funding wars and CIA operations all over the planet. That is why you should care what others think. You are involved. You are a part of it whether you choose to think about it or not.

    136. Re:Why? by gparent · · Score: 1

      His actions resulted in him violation his parole, I never said otherwise.

      They did not cause death. Some offended idiots caused death.

    137. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Posting a video online in a manner which would violate the terms of his probation is not an exercise of free speech.

      Yes, it is, actually. Free speech - and, more specifically, anonymous free speech - is a cornerstone of American freedoms. It is one of our core values. To give it up because it's inconvenient is - well, despicable. We, as Americans, should be better than this. He did nothing wrong.

      Face it, he's being jailed because he embarrassed the Obama administration. Nothing more. If he hadn't embarrassed Obama, nothing would have come of his "parole violation" - a trumped up, bogus charge to stifle those who might dare speak up against Obama's decision to jail "those who slander the prophet of Islam." (Obama's exact words!)

      Posted anonymously because we have the right to anonymous free speech. Never give up that right. And never stand by while that right is taken from those who would dare exercise it.

    138. Re:Why? by HiThere · · Score: 2

      I wish that were the moral. There is sufficient evidence that if they don't find evidence, they will create it for me to doubt that moral.

      That isn't to say that there is much doubt that in this case they needed to do that. It's pretty clear that he's guilty as charged. But if he'd been squeaky clean, they would probably have invented something. "Suspicion of conspiracy to violate copyright laws" or something. (Note that the "conspiracy" part makes it a felony.)

      FWIW, I think he may well be guilty of "conspiracy to violate copyright laws" based on things that were said by an actress who is suing him over deceptive practices during the making of the film. But I'm no lawyer.

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    139. Re:Why? by Type44Q · · Score: 1

      was sentenced in 1997 to one year in Los Angeles County Jail and three years probation. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney, he violated probation in 2002

      Those numbers don't seem to add up.

    140. Re:Why? by Jeng · · Score: 1

      The fact that he has spoken at length in multiple speeches against this film, without one word in support of the concept that even hateful speech is Free Speech and protected in America.

      Let me guess, you get all your news from Fox News and Youtube?

      I say that because he you are completely wrong.

      Here are a two news sources you may want to check out.

      http://www.csmonitor.com/

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world/us_and_canada/

      --
      Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
    141. Re:Why? by DragonWriter · · Score: 1

      In a way making the film WAS the illegal thing he did, since he made it under an alias, thereby violating his parole.

      Also because he posted it online without clearing it with his probation officer first, which also violated the conditions of his probation.

    142. Re:Why? by seepho · · Score: 1
      Seven hells, it took me two minutes on Google to find evidence of the contrary.

      “I know there are some who ask why we don’t just ban such a video. The answer is enshrined in our laws: our Constitution protects the right to practice free speech. Here in the United States, countless publications provoke offense. Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs. Moreover, as President of our country, and Commander-in-Chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so. Americans have fought and died around the globe to protect the right of all people to express their views – even views that we disagree with

      “I know that not all countries in this body share this understanding of the protection of free speech. Yet in 2012, at a time when anyone with a cell phone can spread offensive views around the world with the click of a button, the notion that we can control the flow of information is obsolete. The question, then, is how we respond. And on this we must agree: there is no speech that justifies mindless violence.

      “There are no words that excuse the killing of innocents. There is no video that justifies an attack on an Embassy. There is no slander that provides an excuse for people to burn a restaurant in Lebanon, or destroy a school in Tunis, or cause death and destruction in Pakistan.”

    143. Re:Why? by Cinder6 · · Score: 1

      Yelling "fire" and making this video are two different things. In the former case, yelling "fire" in a crowded theater tells other theatergoers that they may be in immanent danger of physical harm or death. Thus, a panicked response by those present is expected, and that is why it is illegal to yell "fire" in a crowded theater when there isn't a fire.

      Making a film that ridicules a religion should not incite violent response by rational, normal people. There are plenty of examples of people recognizing attacks like this for what they are. All you have to do is look at South Park. The creators of South Park have insulted just about every modern religion possible, and yet the nation isn't embroiled in holy war.

      The creator of the video should not face consequences merely because some members of the Islamic world are apparently so insane as to think that this poorly done video, which would never have seen widespread viewership had this incident not happened, will somehow damage their supreme deity and/or prophet who's been dead for 1,000 years.

      (As an aside, rioting over something as trivial as this video seems hypocritical as well as insane. What does Allah care about some idiot's film? Doesn't Allah will everything? So Allah willed the video to be made. Also, "all-powerful" presumably means that Allah isn't so weak as to be hurt by the video he had commissioned. Then again, it would mean Allah willed people to riot over the video he willed to be created, which means... You know what? Predestination is stupid.)

      PS - The guy was arrested for violating parole, not for making the video.

      --
      If you can't convince them, convict them.
    144. Re:Why? by Type44Q · · Score: 1
      Me: "Mod parent up."

      Slashdot: "This exact comment has already been posted. Try to be more original..."

      Me: WTF?

    145. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Look at the anonymous coward that doesn't have a clue.

      No logic skill, I see.

      Think about the intended target demographic of this film. Think about the way this person went about constructing it, its message, and then releasing it to a group of people known for being volatile when it comes to their religious beliefs, which was part of that message.

      To think that there was no intent to cause such a reaction is absolutely foolish.

      How's that pink elephant working out for you?

      So, because he called a bunch of medieval, murderous thugs medieval murderous thugs, and the medieval murderous thugs rioted and killed, we're supposed to give the medieval murderous thugs a free pass?

      Because that's EXACTLY what you're doing - saying it's wrong to call violent thugs violent thugs because they'll act like violent thugs.

      Nice to know you support the use of threats of violence to suppress criticism of violence. Free speech and whatever other rights you're willing to trample be damned.

      Even if the filmmaker set out of offend, that in no way whatsoever excuses violence.

      And FWIW, that violence is a great way to make his entire fucking point that Islam is a childish, violent, medieval, intolerant religion stuck in the Dark Ages.

      "OMG! Moslems can't control themselves when they see a video making fun of their child-molesting pervert Mohammed! We better not make fun of that child-molesting pervert Mohammed!"

      Why don't you fucking join the 21st century?

    146. Re:Why? by amicusNYCL · · Score: 1

      It just says he was sentenced in 1997, not that he started serving then. He could have started serving in 1998, which means a release in 1999, and probation to 2002. The Wikipedia article has references that I didn't bother checking.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    147. Re:Why? by kbg · · Score: 2

      If I lived next to you and I did my best to inflame the drug cartels wouldn't you consider me a danger to the community?

      No I would consider the drug cartels a danger to the community.

    148. Re:Why? by hazah · · Score: 1

      That it was the desired outcome is no mistery. It still does not excuse the outcome, though. It really does not matter what was in the video, really, as those that were murdered weren't connected to it (only by some arbitrary document at best). How ironic that the outcome is exactly what the video portrays. They really did themselves a disservice all on their own, it seems to me they were itching to illustrate its accuracy, and that makes them even more pathetic.

    149. Re:Why? by gstrickler · · Score: 1

      But your point is irrelevant. The fact is that his actions lead to the deaths. Whether he is legally culpable for the deaths is a separate issue. But the fact that his actions resulted in the deaths made it virtually certain that he would be arrested on the probation violations.

      --
      make imaginary.friends COUNT=100 VISIBLE=false
    150. Re:Why? by amicusNYCL · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The US Administration decided it was politically expedient to have this man in jail for his "political crime". The technical method of achieving this goal, as they are only allowed to wield their power according to the "letter of the law", they hired a detective to dig up the dirt on him and "find a law" which which to charge him.

      I'd like to see your proof for that claim.

      He was interviewed by probation officers shortly after it became public that he was behind the movie. He was interviewed by probation officers, not the FBI. They evidently determined that he had in fact violated his probation, which is actually publicly demonstrable since he used an alias on the casting call for the movie that you can find online. That's a violation itself. Posting the casting call online is another violation. Uploading the video to Youtube is another violation. Posting comments on Youtube is another. As soon as I found information about this guy in the days after the riots started and saw that his probation terms included not using a computer I immediately wondered why he wasn't in jail already. I'm glad they eventually got to it.

      Had his film not caused the diplomatic incident, he probably would have flown under the radar and not been noticed by the authorities, and thus still be a free man.

      That's correct. It doesn't need to be a diplomatic incident though, he could have posted a comedy video that got viewed by 100 million people and he still would have popped up on someone's radar. Like his probation officer's.

      Personally, I don't think the government actually wanted to jail this guy. They have to though, or risk other people asking why they have to stand up before the man for a probation violation when this idiot got off free. This would be equal justice under the law.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    151. Re:Why? by xevioso · · Score: 1

      But some are, clearly.

    152. Re:Why? by readin · · Score: 1

      As I understand law enforcement, there is a chain-of-evidence that says evidence obtained illegally can't be used in court, nor can evidence obtained as a result of the original illegal evidence. For example, if the cop searches your house without a warrant and finds illegal activity, any evidence obtained by that search can't be used against you. If evidence obtained in that search leads to further evidence - that too is tainted by the original illegal search and can't be used against you.

      As I understand this case from your description, all the evidence of the parole violations were the result of an investigation into the origin of the perfectly legal video - an investigation that appears to have occurred because the government didn't like the video. If that's the case, then any evidence obtained from that investigation is tainted by the fact that he government wasn't respecting the guy's free speech rights.

      --
      I often don't like the choices people make, but I like the fact that people make choices. That's why I'm a conservative.
    153. Re:Why? by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

      So let's say the muslims start rioting whenever a person converts from islam. Does that make it illegal to convert? After all, it would cause a riot.

    154. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You haven't been reading the editorials lately. Plenty of people eager to abandon to appease totalitarians.

    155. Re:Why? by xevioso · · Score: 1

      It is unreasonable.

      If you yell Fire, and people flee, they are fleeing because they have a reasonable suspicion that there is a fire, and that there lives are at stake. They can choose not to, but a reasonable person in that situation would flee or check to see if there was a fire.

      However, it is UNreasonable for Muslims to attack the US embassy because someone insults their prophet. People insult Jesus all the time and no one goes on a rampage, so we cannot say that insulting a religious figure will likely cause a riot...

    156. Re:Why? by Meeni · · Score: 1

      There's another explanation. If he had made a movie about butterflies, nobody would have known about it, and that most importantly includes his parole officer. So yes, technically, he could have made that movie without going to jail.

      Now he has made a movie that has become very (in)famous. Whatever are the reasons that made the movie famous, that means that everybody gets to know he has made a movie under a pseudonym, and everybody includes his parole officer. And guess what, when his parole officer learns through national news that he has broken the terms of his parole, he is FORCED TO have him arrested, for police officers are not allowed to let crime they know of continue and have to report them to prosecution.

      Even more so, he was banned from using pseudonyms because he used them to defraud people (or banks, whatever). And he is know accused of defrauding the actors of the movie, by changing the script, dubbing them, and making them participate to some grotesque racist slur against their will. And he used a pseudonym to efficiently defraud these actors.

    157. Re:Why? by xevioso · · Score: 1

      So, there's no evidence that he did that...he did marry her, and so it is certainly possible that he did do this, just that there's no real evidence, from any of the Hadith.

    158. Re:Why? by hairyfeet · · Score: 1

      Bimbo Newton Crosby, you had everyone from the president on down, both Dems AND Reps, royally kissing the asses of the jihadists, even though it was clear to anyone with 2 functional brain cells they used this YouTube quality film that had been out for months that nobody had seen or gave a rat's ass about to help stir shit for their 9/11 anniversary terrorist attacks, you had the MSM not only name the guy but actually tell where he lived so he and his family had to go into hiding, and within 24 hours of the collective ass kissing you had no less than the FBI investigating to see if it was a "parole violation".

      Parole violation my ass, they don't want to tell the truth which is "We have decided to follow a path of appeasement and kissing the ass of violent backwards animals so you'll no longer have free speech rights when it comes to Islam because Muslims are now a "protected class" and can scream "That's against Islam!" and get any and all of your rights blocked because they are protected. They also can continue the systematic murdering of the Christians in Pakistan, making videos for kids that tell them how wonderful jihad against the west is, and even bringing Sharia into the west with Sharia ghettos and honor killings and you can't say shit, that would be politically incorrect and therefor racist if you spoke out. have a nice day citizen".

      Appeasement has NEVER worked, didn't work in the 30s, isn't gonmna work now, because you can't appease someone who doesn't respect your individual rights or even your right to exist. This is nothing but a variation of classic "white guilt" where if you bring something like this up they'll blame it ALL on the west, everything from bases in Saudi Arabia to the fricking crusades, like there is some sort of score card and the jihadists have so many murders free to make them "even" with the west.

      They do NOT respect your right to speak, even though THEY can put out the most foul anti Christian and Jewish propaganda this side of Germany in the late 30s, they do NOT respect your right to have different beliefs, see the banning of bibles in many places in the ME or again the murdering of Christians in Pakistan while they expect YOU to put up with anything they want, including a Mosque named "Cordoba" after the Christian church they conquered and took for Islam within spitting distantance of the two towers. this would be like naming a bar 'Banzai!" and putting it on the beach opposite the Arizona, and they do NOT respect individual rights, the right to speak, look, or behave differently, even in supposedly "free countries" see the people attacked in the EU who dared to walk through a "Sharia Ghetto" while not being covered or while drinking a beer.

      If someone doesn't respect your rights or even your right to exist? No other dialog is worth pursuing, there is no common ground on which to build. the politicians are playing the same pointless, braindead, retarded game that got us into WWII, thinking that "If we just do what they say, maybe they'll leave us alone! /snivel, cower/" but giving into thugs just emboldens, it NEVER appeases. they will demand more and more and MORE until their demands get so outrageous that you won't give it to them and they'll attack anyway. Its a path of failure and ruin, i only hope we get somebody with guts enough to stand up and tell them to fuck right off.

      I do hope someone sets up a defense fund for this guy, as a believer in the first amendment I'll be proud to donate.

      --
      ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
    159. Re:Why? by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      One has to wonder that if he had made a movie about butterflies, would he be in jail right now? I bet not.

      probably not, but not necessarily for the insidious reasons to which you are alluding. how many people break laws of varying degrees every day and get away with them because no one notices or cares? this guy made a lot of people notice and care. if you are doing something illegal (liking breaking the terms of your probation) it a bad idea to make a spectacle of yourself doing it (using a pseudonym). duh.

      say a business man buys a new yacht and car that are beyond his means, people notice. they will look into him. low and behold, he was embezzling money and was arrested. buying the yacht and car weren't illegal and no one would say he was arrested for that ... but nonetheless, they are the *reason* he was discovered.

    160. Re:Why? by xevioso · · Score: 1

      Lets say you are one of the 10 most wanted in America, and a local news crew is doing man on the street interviews.

      They interview you about who you will vote for, and you say "Obama can go to hell!"

      A nearby cop recognizes you as one of the ten most wanted, and arrests you.

      Are you being arrested because of what you said, or because you were stupid enough to let a cop on the lookout for you hear you speak and see your face??

      It's the latter, clearly, and the when the government arrests you in that situation is not an assault on your free speech rights.

      it's the same here. Government DOES get to do that, and they SHOULD. In fact, if the cop didn't arrest one of the ten most wanted in that situation, I would fucking make a citizens arrest on him myself...after all, he's one of the ten most wanted.

    161. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How was that film religious satire? The makers called it a film criticizing islam. It wasn't meant as a "joke". It was racist. I wonder what the reaction would be a similar film was made for Judaism or African-American slaves or the homosexual community. Would the Western world call also support that as free speech? I think not.

    162. Re:Why? by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      If the same person had created and posted it under his real name, it would still be a free speech issue

      in that case, it'd be a murder investigation.

    163. Re:Why? by tbird81 · · Score: 1

      If I yell "Fire", a rational person will try to leave a theater quickly, possibly causing injuries to others.

      If you yell "Fire" in a Muslim theatre (okay, well mosque), you won't get the same response. You'll have a whole lot of selfish men trampling over women and children to escape.

      Compassion for others and selflessness are not inherent behaviours in humans. We are taught them as children because it makes our society a better place. Some groups do not share these values.

    164. Re:Why? by farble1670 · · Score: 1

      Given the specific nature and intended target demographic of the video, YES.

      sure, so all it takes for Crazy Group X to get something effectively outlawed is to riot when it happens? don't you think that reinforces bad behavior? do you give your child the candy when he throws a tantrum?

    165. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      BS. You have no idea what has happened in those countries and most News from those areas is filtered. Yes there was a Terrorist Attack but the seemingly consistent protest encompassing many Islamic countries is a separate issue and has like many other events only ensure that te rift between us never closes. Before the 50's many Politicians were considered Arabists and so were not as belligerent or assinine to those areas as they are now along with many blind citizens.

      SIN

    166. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There is no such thing as free speech. You get away with what you can till someone shuts you up.

    167. Re:Why? by vux984 · · Score: 1

      If you yell Fire, and people flee, they are fleeing because they have a reasonable suspicion that there is a fire, and that there lives are at stake. They can choose not to, but a reasonable person in that situation would flee or check to see if there was a fire.

      Except that a mad panic resulting in people trampling eachother to death doesn't happen in practice; simply from some yutz yelling "Fire!". It just doesn't happen.

      However, it is UNreasonable for Muslims to attack the US embassy because someone insults their prophet.

      Agreed. And at this point most of the evidence points to that being a pre-planned attack taking advantage of 'opportunity' rather than sparked directly by the comment. So it's largely irrelevant to this discussion, isn't it?

      People insult Jesus all the time and no one goes on a rampage

      Except this isn't about Jesus.

      so we cannot say that insulting a religious figure will likely cause a riot...

      But we can say insulting Mohammed quite likely will. In fact, I'd bet more on it causing a some sort of violent outburst long than I would on you having any luck causing an outburst yelling "Fire!" somewhere.

    168. Re:Why? by Tarlus · · Score: 1

      Absolutely nothing. The editors just know that continuously touching on this topic generates a lot of traffic. This site is full of people who never seem to grow tired of discussing and downplaying Islam and religion in general. I mean hell, there 533 comments as I write this, and just look how intense it has gotten.

      --
      /* No Comment */
    169. Re:Why? by DM9290 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Yes, because a few thousand people is always representative of a religion with roughly 1 billion followers.

      No. It is the leaders of those 1 billion followers who represent them, and without any notable exceptions, all the leaders of Islamic nations have come out and blamed the movie for the violence and used this as a speaking opportunity to argue that it should be illegal to criticize or mock Islam, and to spend more energy criticizing anyone who criticizes muslims for this violence (As you have done) rather than criticize the muslims who are responsible for it.

      --
      No one has a right to their *own* opinion. They have a right to the TRUTH.
    170. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Woah, let's be clear here, had he not done the trailer he would likely not have come afoul of the authorities so he would not have been charged with violating his parole. So it certainly does have something to do with the trailer, not recognizing that is putting your head in the sand about how the world works.

      Having said that, he was arrested for things that the authorities had the right & proper purposes to arrest him for, so he made himself an easy scapegoat. You can't blame the authorities for using the legal means at their disposal for taking this guy down. There is no 'free speech' issue here.

    171. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This type of deflection of responsibility for heinous acts has to stop. Blaming this guy in ANY way for the death's caused by other people is so far away from ethical considerations that it is laughable.

      The entertainment industry makes fun of the Christian faith in any number of ways on almost a daily basis. If some of the things in South Park directed at the Christian faith were done against the Muslim faith the Muslim's would be rioting all the time. I have no love for religion, I believe it is a sickness of the mind but at the least Christian's have some restraint. There are large swaths of the Muslim world (though not certainly all of it) that has 0 restraint, they want to kill, maim and hurt people with 0 respect for others faith or free speech rights THEY are to blame, not someone posting a parody video of their faith. The powers that be should be showing outrage at the killings & threatening to cut off all ties with governments that continue to allow this violence against innocent people to continue not looking for a 'scape goat' to appease these radical elements of the Muslim faith.

    172. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "This is not a rights issue"

      Yeah... because you don't have a right to use a computer you own just cause someone in a costume said so.

      I don't know what "fraud" he did to be on probation/parole in the first place but "conditions of release" are bullshit.

      If you are a threat, you are a threat. If you need to be in prison, put you in prison. If you do NOT need to be in prison, and you aren't out there committing fraud or whatever, then you should be able to use a computer. It's absolutely a rights issue.

    173. Re:Why? by DM9290 · · Score: 1

      "incite" in a criminal context requires some kind of direction or urging or persuasion to do the thing being incited.

      Incitement to riot would be something like "lets go smash that car! follow me!" or yelling things like "don't let the police treat us like animals! defend yourself!".

      if the movie had instructions that people should go and burn down all the mosques, then that would be incitement. But it had nothing like that at all.

      the fact that a movie is highly offensive to someone is not inciting them to do anything.

      --
      No one has a right to their *own* opinion. They have a right to the TRUTH.
    174. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If only we'd had a bloody riot over that "legitimate rape" nonsense, we could have had him sent to jail for saying something he should have known was offensive enough to get random third parties killed!

    175. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There where two "crimes".

      NO, actually there were THREE.

      You being permitted to use a computer when you are a semi-literate
      idiot is number three.

    176. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And you can't upload porn to YouTube, and certain types of porn are against the law, there is no 'free speech protection' there. Just like I can't plaster nude pictures to the outside of my house or car.

      There are limits already.

      We also have to worry about False Flag attacks using this type of video pretending to be made by the US/American citizens/Israel/Jew when it was really made by a Muslim group looking to rile up hatred towards the US/Israel.

    177. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Blockbuster also expected my social security number. I did not complete that particular form.

    178. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You may as well argue that Google's hosting of the video led to someone's death, or that I led to the death of a few people because I laughed and someone was offended by that. Once again, he did violate his probation. But the cause of death was the person pulling the trigger.

    179. Re:Why? by HiThere · · Score: 1

      I doubt it too, because the film was clearly merely a convenient flashpoint. They have been seriously and grievously offended and injured by repeated acts by the US government. Something that stirs up additional reaction creates a flash-mob, and is used by some who have been trying to get revenge for a long time. It isn't the film that's the problem, not basically. But the film is seen as an additional injury.

      If you want people to stop hating you, stop injuring them. After a decade or so they'll put their interest on a more current enemy. (And given human nature, there will always be an enemy.)

      --

      I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
    180. Re:Why? by Beardydog · · Score: 1

      What about us little-endians, you insensitive clod?

    181. Re:Why? by bbecker23 · · Score: 1

      ...without one word in support of the concept that even hateful speech is Free Speech and protected in America.

      That's simply not true. The video is rather long but he makes it clear that despite the video being vile (and it is, let's not play that game), free speech is sacrosanct. A choice quote, if you don't wish to follow the link,

      Like me, the majority of Americans are Christian, and yet we do not ban blasphemy against our most sacred beliefs. Moreover, as President of our country, and Commander-in-Chief of our military, I accept that people are going to call me awful things every day, and I will always defend their right to do so.

      You'd have a hard time finding a greater free speech apologist than myself, but I think that the president has done a fine job of defending free speech while communicating with the Muslim community.

      --
      cat /dev/random > sig.txt
    182. Re:Why? by jader3rd · · Score: 1

      The freedom of speech has always been limited by the exception of speech intended to solely cause harm or public backlash (ie - yelling 'Fire' in a crowded theater, calling in bomb threats).

      Um, no. Yelling 'Fire' is not covered as freedom of speech if it's in physical proximity of a group. You can go into an empty theater and yell it all you want. In the US, the proximity is important. Falsely calling in bomb crosses the line of freedom of speech if it's considered imminent violence against a particular person. There's nothing illegal with causing public backlash in the US.

    183. Re:Why? by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      Good point. Normally they never arrest people for probation (parole) violations.

      Of course they do. *IF* their parole officer gets to hear about them. And in this case it was impossible for the parole officer NOT to hear about the violations. Thus incarceration for violation of parole was inevitable.

    184. Re:Why? by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      This was an incitement to riot. That is a danger to the community.

      many muslims also believe that a woman who does not cover herself incites nearby men to ravage and rape her. men, afterall, cannot be trusted with their urges. any nearby woman showing flesh is FORCING any nearby man to act on his desires.

      therefore, its the woman's fault. any time a man attacks her, its her fault.

      you want me to go on or have you learned this bit of western concept, yet?

      INCITING is not forcing. I don't give a good god damned what you think about this or that subject, as a culture or as a people; but when you take up violence for things you think 'hurt your feelings', its by choice, then; and YOU are to blame, not some words on paper or bits of video sequence. YOU control your actions. incitement is a lame-ass excuse. adults control themselves. please start acting like adults and not like animals.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    185. Re:Why? by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      If a fire alarm goes off, I recommend you don't go looking for the fire, but exit the building. Many people have died going looking for the fire.

    186. Re:Why? by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      An investigation into a perfectly legal video isn't "evidence obtained illegally".

    187. Re:Why? by TheGratefulNet · · Score: 1

      It's called "reckless disregard". He knew the film would create outrage and protests that could endanger others.

      when I was growing up, kids had a saying: sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.

      (I'm probably showing my age on that one. do kids even say that anymore?)

      but anyway, it was a well understood concept by the age of 5, maybe 10 the latest (to pick round numbers). certainly kids learned very early not to 'go animal' every time something wasn't pleasing to them.

      so, tell me, why do the animals in the middle east get a free pass on this? why are we having to worry about what we say and do and if it might 'set them off'.

      who gets to define this barrier? this third rail?

      what if it changes over time and gets more and more restrictive?

      I don't like the direction this is going in. I say we hold fast and don't give even an inch on our western concept of 'words can never hurt me'.

      the animals need to be brought into the modern age. sorry, but its just time. the world is kind of sick of this shit already.

      --

      --
      "It is now safe to switch off your computer."
    188. Re:Why? by strikethree · · Score: 1

      Who says Nakoula personally posted it on Youtube? Who says he used a fake name (which name did he use?)? I agree the guy appears to be a real scumbag though.

      Seeing a (supposed) routine probation violation plastered across international news is... a somewhat chilling idea. What if I created and posted such a video? Well, I am not on probation so I have nothing to worry about right? Well, the cop sitting across the street waiting for me to back out my driveway so he can use any excuse to stop me and search my car and otherwise harass me might be a problem. No, I will not argue with him so they will have to wait for another time to find that my papers are not quite in order. Oy.

      --
      "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
    189. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      While you a are right about most of your post, you are wrong on Assange...

      Julina Assange is a dirtbag who fell into a common trap... he poked a tiger and did not get bit... so he poked some more and still did not get bit... so he started to think he was bite-proof. Assange repeatedly provoked the world's last real superpower and, not getting hurt in the process, apparently began to think he was beyond the reach of the laws of even the most powerful nation on Earth. His mistake was in thinking the US did not hit back because it was incapable, rather than that it was choosing not to. He probably came to think that if the mighty US could not get him, then why be bothered by the pesky little laws of a small European country???? This makes a guy like Assange very dangerous to anybody near him... in this case it was some rather typical young women. The US did not "dig up" some old sex charges against him (the US prefers something less tabloid-worthy like tax evasion for a purpose like this). The sex charges against Assange are not some old bureaucratic violation that's been sitting on the books getting dusty, which are usually not prosecuted, but which can be used when convenient; they are recent charges by specific human victims. Wake up! You are still able to be a "useful idiot" and support Wikileaks if you want to without supporting an arrogant dirtbag who thinks he is above all laws

    190. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The video itself wasn't illegal. The fact that he violated his parole making it *is*.

    191. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your concept of being in control would be being able to stop yourself from acting badly. Their concept of being in control would be the same, but their concept of acting badly would be to NOT murder people. [... ] If someone were to say "Hey, maybe we shouldn't kill these people..", suddenly they are the blasphemer, suddenly it's their head on the block.

      If anyone doubts parent, read about what happened to Mahmoud Mohamed Taha.

      Anyone who is unfamiliar with what is going on needs to read Revolutionary Sudan, by Burr and Collins, and Sayyid Qutb's Milestones, particularly the chapter on "Jihad in the cause of Allah". Anyone who mistakenly thinks it is about US imperialism or colonialism needs to read Roberta Goren's The Soviet Union and Terrorism, if they can find a copy.

    192. Re:Why? by b4dc0d3r · · Score: 1

      Your ignorance requires a response. Islam is, and you can find the definition yourself wherever you see fit other than Fox News, submission to Allah. Allah is the same deity as the God of Abraham, the same deity as the Christian "Father". Islam is worshipping the same deity under the guidelines of Muhammed.

      This is no different from following Martin Luther (Lutheran denomination) or Calvinism (John Calvin). Or Joseph Smith, Jr. (Mormonism). Or Christian (multiple authors, canonicized indirectly in the Councils of Carthage).

      One of the duties is Jihad. Wikipedia has as good of a definition as I've seen or heard,

      "A religious war with those who are unbelievers in the mission of Muhammad ... enjoined especially for the purpose of advancing Islam and repelling evil from Muslims"

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jihad

      Muslims are therefore required by their faith to actively repel anything which does the opposite of advancing Islam. Any insult to Muhammed or Islam would be required by the faith to be opposed.

      So in your example, you are correct in that you do not have to riot in the streets. You would, however, have a responsibility to fight in whatever manner you see fit according to the Koran, any such opposition to Islam. If rioting in the streets is the best you can do, this is what you have to offer.

      Christians do not have a duty to protect the faith. There has been a title "Defender of the Faith" since 1521, but that hardly qualifies as relevant. Henry VIII was anointed as such, but his break with Catholicism and as opposition to Lutherian opposition led Catholics to dismiss the title. Protestants may retain the title, but only defend the Protestant branch of the faith, and do not represent Eastern Orthodox nor obviously Catholic teachings.

      There is no such duty in the Christian world, so your example again is correct. Christians have no such obligation as a result of their faith. They may talk to someone who makes fun of Jesus, or become angry and kill the person in a vat of HCl, but that is not an obligation.

      Islam is complete and unconditional surrender to God as brought to us by the prophet Muhanned. Christianity is something you accept (via Baptism as a conditional shortly after birth and by Confirmation when you are old enough to decide for yourself). And there are no statements to submit to God unconditionally as a result, nor defend your religion.

      I have no intention to return to this topic, please ask local authorities in the respective religion if you have further questions. Or at least read some more. Comparative Religion would be a good place to start.

      Well-deserved moderation points were undone in the creation of this post.

    193. Re:Why? by BasilBrush · · Score: 1

      I've been in lots of places including places that are dark and crowded where someone has yelled fire to be "clever" or even pulled the fire alarm.

      Lots? Who the hell do you hang out with?

      The "shouting fire in a crowded theatre" example dates back to 1919. A time when theatres didn't have convenient "break glass" fire alarms all around, and without today's health and safety and buiilding regs, theatres burning down with audiences unable to escape wasn't that uncommon. Back then if someone shouted fire, you'd have been well advised to get the hell out as soon as possible - very much more so than if a fire alarm rang today.

      It survives as a metaphor, long after it was a literal real life danger.

    194. Re:Why? by poity · · Score: 1

      Worse than that, they'll probably think what they did had an affect on this outcome. So in the future they'll try to do what 'worked' this time -- kill some Americans.

      --
      your thin skin doesn't make me a troll
    195. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How was that film religious satire? The makers called it a film criticizing islam. It wasn't meant as a "joke". It was racist. I wonder what the reaction would be a similar film was made for Judaism or African-American slaves or the homosexual community. Would the Western world call also support that as free speech? I think not.

      No, you think WRONG.

      Life of Brian - Mony Python makes a mockery of Christ and the Jews, with a few pot shots at homosexuals thrown in for good measure - "But I want the right to be a woman!"

      Piss Christ - OK, it's not a movie. But is sure makes the point about Muslim and Christian (read "Western") tendencies perfectly, doesn't it? It's been around for years, no riots and deaths over it yet. Heaven forbid there be even a rumor that a copy of the Quran was found in the best place for it - on the wall of a shithouse - lest the poor we-can't-control-ourselves Muslims start burning, rioting, and killing. And don't even try that crap that it's "Just a few". The majority does NOTHING to the "few" that do riot and kill.

      Blazing Saddles OK, Mel Brooks' use of slavery allusions up to and including "nigger" really were used to poke fun at the KKK et al but still...

      A Soldier's Story - Want to see some real critique of pre-integration black culture in the US? This movie doesn't make fun of it - it's deadly serious and it confronts some real nastiness.

      There's a whole shitload more examples, too.

      Nevermind the equivalent of this "movie" - a cheap YouTube video. You can probably find a video on YouTube making fun of just about anything.

    196. Re:Why? by RazorSharp · · Score: 1

      Because it is quite likely that this arrest is about censorship to appease jihadists.

      Is it really quite likely? It seems to me that it's a faint possibility.

      --
      "From the depths of my skeptical and rationalist soul, I ask the Lord to protect me from California touchie-feeliedom."
    197. Re:Why? by RazorSharp · · Score: 1

      what makes you think that Obama is behind his prosecution?

      The fact that he has spoken at length in multiple speeches against this film, without one word in support of the concept that even hateful speech is Free Speech and protected in America.

      Why does Obama have to include the caveat about free speech when condemning speech his disapproves of? The guy went to Harvard Law School and taught at the University of Chicago Law School teaching constitutional law and worked as a civil rights attorney - I think he's well aware that hateful speech is protected in America. Besides, if Obama had included the little disclaimer about free speech, would you be any less suspecting of his involvement in this case? What would that really prove?

      Just because hateful speech is protected from censorship from the government doesn't mean it's protected from criticism from members of the government.

      --
      "From the depths of my skeptical and rationalist soul, I ask the Lord to protect me from California touchie-feeliedom."
    198. Re:Why? by fadethepolice · · Score: 1

      Because I am one person with an opinion, not a group of people trying to change the conversation in order to manipulate people.

    199. Re:Why? by fadethepolice · · Score: 1

      This comment belongs here, not on slasdot: http://www.theblaze.com/tv/?gclid=CMe6gZPJ2bICFUqi4AodhwEAog

    200. Re:Why? by arekin · · Score: 1

      ...Kinda. The point is when we deny a normally rational person the means for rational thought. The threat of danger will insight panic, robbing someone of rational thought and thus creating danger where none may exist. A muslim is at no risk for danger and thus is not in a situation where panic is robbing them of rationality. They are being irrational by pure choice. That choice is really what makes the difference.

      --
      Disagreeing with you does not make me a troll.
    201. Re:Why? by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      No-one is trying to "change the conversation in order to manipulate people". Various people here are just airing their own personal opinions, and it appears that the majority strongly disagrees with you on this particular issue. If you believe it's some kind of black ops against America, you're crazy.

    202. Re:Why? by Stan92057 · · Score: 1

      And maybe he shouldn't have done something drawing attention to himself while he was breaking his parole.

      --
      Jack of all trades,master of none
    203. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We should just arrest you now. Menace to the Community, or some such.

    204. Re:Why? by superwiz · · Score: 1

      Because this administration does not, at all, care to enforce the law other than as a means to reach this administrations' ulterior ends. Which brings up the question "why does suppressing free speech appear to be within the desired ends of this administration?"

      --
      Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
    205. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What does his violating parole have at all to do with this site?

      FTFY and to answer you, I think it falls under "news that matters."

      He used multiple aliases when the judge asked him his name at the parole hearing. If you or I did that, we'd be locked up for contempt, let alone a guy who was already on probation. A probation agreement that included not using aliases and not using the internet.

      Take this into consideration:

      The man owed $800,000 restitution for bank fraud in which he used upwards of 20 different aliases. Instead of paying that back, he paid actors for their faces, then dubbed hate speech over them. The people in that video had a right to not receive death threats, but that right was taken from them because someone used their images to incite riots and death abroad.

      Instead of this guy coming out in his own film and saying "I hate muslims, because XYandZ..." which I would defend to the death, he didn't. He hid his identity, then lied about his identity multiple times including to the judge at the parole hearing. What he did was cowardly and fraudulent. He offered up innocent people to pay for his points of view with their lives. I'm fairly certain that's not what freedom of speech is meant to protect.

      Look, I'm agnostic. I see religion as a whole as backward. I have no dog in the fight. That being said, I defended the nut in Florida who burned the Koran, because he had a right to do it. That's about as close to what's happened here, except the Florida nutcase wasn't on parole for bank fraud.

    206. Re:Why? by Seeteufel · · Score: 1
      The problem of the case is that for radical muslims not the content (which is mostly a factual account of the Quran gospel) is objectionable but the depiction of Muhammed. Imagery of Muhammed is an offense in many muslim communities.

      Uhm, his video was distributed on the internet and no other medium....you don't think the curbing of free speech is a nerd issue?

      So regardless what the content of the video is, the mere depiction of Muhammed is objectionable. Not all muslim believers are radicals, and most muslims do not endorse the insane violence of the 911 attackers. 911 by the way refers to the epic defeat of the Osman empire (11 September 1697). Furthermore, the incidents may have been provoked by the video but do not provide any excuse for the violence. It is plain nonsense to claim that the video caused the violence. The arrest of the film maker invokes the impression that violent outrage pays off.

    207. Re:Why? by Fuzion · · Score: 1

      The fact that he has spoken at length in multiple speeches against this film, without one word in support of the concept that even hateful speech is Free Speech and protected in America.

      Are you sure about that? The below is a direct quote directly from Obama's speech at the UN:

      "The amateur anti-Muslim film made in the U.S. that sparked anger was crude and disgusting, an insult to Muslims and America. It must be rejected. But the U.S. won’t ban it because the Constitution protects free speech. Taking that right away threatens the rights of all to express their own views and practice their own faith."

      --
      "Knowledge makes us accountable." - Che Guevara
    208. Re:Why? by Stan92057 · · Score: 1

      hmm I wonder why no Muslims rioted/murdered here in the USA?

      --
      Jack of all trades,master of none
    209. Re:Why? by Stan92057 · · Score: 1

      No riots/murders in the US! Hows that for evidence?

      --
      Jack of all trades,master of none
    210. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Billions of people chose to do nothing when they learned of his video.

      1.) I am sure many of them are good men.
      2.) Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.

    211. Re:Why? by fadethepolice · · Score: 1

      "Because it is quite likely that this arrest is about censorship to appease jihadists" This statement is bereft of facts or common sense. It comes from an outlook that perceives the president of the united states sides with terrorists when the truth of the matter is that the person making the statement is in fact defending someone who is NOT ACTUALLY FROM AMERICA, is a criminal, and is producing propaganda designed to put the lives of americans at risk. The fact that a large section of america's media is putting forth this type of bull is disgusting. I draw the line at slashdot. The statement changes the conversation form one that is based on facts to one that is based on propagandist conspiracy lies that favors a foreign operative above the office of the presidency of the united states. It is not a fit statement for a patriotic american nor for a person concerned with finding the facts of a situation, and therefore is not worthy of slashdot or any other mass media. Please idenify ONE fact that supports the statement above and I will retract my statement.

    212. Re:Why? by brisk0 · · Score: 1

      If you yell 'fire' a *RATIONAL* person would look for the fire and then find a route to get away from it.

      But what are the chances of a theater being full of rational people? Especially if they're the same set of people as in the riots.

    213. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      sort of like getting arrested for driving on a suspended license after being caught speeding...

    214. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We don't build our society to cave in to fear every five seconds. That's a European / South American thing.

      He has a right to free speech. We should protect it, just like we do for everyone else.

      If a bunch of freaks get worked up about it then we should assist them in determining why they are screwed up... And not censor what is both Lego and right.

    215. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's funny how you are so against this guy but I would 99% guarantee you are a supporter of ass-bandit, I mean Assange. Peculiar. Are your ethics always so apparently self serving?

    216. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Did you ever stop to think that, maybe, quite likely, the evidence that he had violated his parole conditions, had become apparent when it was clear he was using computers and aliases?

      I just gotta ask...

    217. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That is all beside the point. The focus of their post was more on the choice of these rioters to murder and justify their insane actions. A crowded theater might or might not panick when you yell "naked man coming for you". The concept was still appropriate.

    218. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A great lawyer once said that if he followed any American for a day he would find at least one felony violation of the law. ANY American, including you amicusNYC. The chilling effect is when they use any excuse possible to curb free speech just because someone doesn't like it. While I think they guy is a total douche I also believe that we as a nation should error on the side of protecting speech. Even the speech of idiots.

    219. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Incite means that crazy people that believe a bullshit lie act crazy when informed that they are indeed crazy and believe a bullshit lie. Is that accurate?

    220. Re:Why? by James+McGuigan · · Score: 2

      I have no proof or additional behind the scenes information, my interpretation simply stems from reading between the lines of the story as you described.

      He was interviewed by probation officers shortly after it became public that he was behind the movie.

      Notice how his probation officers where not just systematically surfing youtube and digging up probation records for every user channel out there. It also took them a significant amount of time to identify the producer of that movie.

      The USA President gets a daily security brief from the head of the CIA. I am imagining a conversation somewhat along the lines of:

      CIA: We have a situation, the Muslim's are rioting and storming our embassies and killing our ambassadors

      Obama: Why?

      CIA: A US youtube user posted a video the Muslims consider offensive, they are demanding we do something about it

      Obama: I want to know everything I can about this video, who, when, where, why, how... and I want it now!

      CIA: Yes Mr President

      Obama: Given that we can't actually do anything about the film right now, send Hillary to do a PR offensive and give the usual spiel about religious tolerance and we come in peace, but don't mention anything about free speech... maybe we can just get them to calm down and this will all blow over in a week

      Clinton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ll5Wg3D4UA4

      CIA: We found the guy behind the film, and here is everything we know about him

      Obama: Bring him in for voluntary questioning, but play it softly softly, see why else we can learn about the critical situation

      CIA: He was using an alias, but we have him on file and he just so happens to be on parole, we have multiple violations we could charge with, what would you like us to do?

      Obama: Charge him with whatever you have got, I want this man in jail. But play it by the book - I don't want the first amendment nutjobs rioting over this as well

      Obama: Send Clinton to tell the Muslims we have punished the infidel for his crimes, they can stop rioting now!

    221. Re:Why? by vux984 · · Score: 2

      Lots? Who the hell do you hang out with?

      Unfortunately, there is no shortage of jackasses who will pull a fire alarm just for the hell of it.

      Back then if someone shouted fire, you'd have been well advised to get the hell out as soon as possible - very much more so than if a fire alarm rang today.

      I'm going to out on a limb, and argue that by the time someone yelled "fire!" there is generally already some corroborating evidence... people shouting in general; smell of smoke, roaring/sucking/crashing/popping sounds etc.

      People don't generally panic and trample eachother to death unless there is more clear and present evidence danger than someone yelling "fire!"

      I've been in 3 buildings that have actually caught fire; twice at night; where the powers gone out, and the lights are gone; and you can hear the fire trucks pulling up outside... and the exit was still highly orderly. In one case one could even smell smoke. The crowds were a bit nervous, excited even.

      I'll grant you that 100 years ago, that things were different, but I'm skeptical that it was EVER the case that crowds just started trampling people to death merely because someone falsely yelled "fire".

      I know there have been a few cases of false alarms leading to deaths; but there are usually extenuating circumstances...

      http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=F10A12F9355E13738DDDAA0894DA405B838DF1D3

      Here's one from 1913. 2 people died. Except it wasn't strictly speaking a false alarm -- there was a sound like a gunshot, smoke, and even flames as the projector did briefly catch fire while changing reels before the projectionist extinguished it. So when someone yelled fire... well... there was a fire.

      The building was also WAY over lawful capacity (which was evidently very common in those days; according to the police's own statements).

      The upshot though is that to say yelling "Fire!" is what caused the deaths is over simplifying a much more complicated situation.

      But even that sidesteps my point; I'm not really asserting that yelling fire! can't be dangerous, it was more to point out that mocking mohammed to provoke a response was not really different. In the right circumstances, sure its dangerous. Just as showing up at a hockey game dressed up like a flaccid penis and mocking the losing home team to the drunkest group super-fans you can find ... its reckless and stupid.

      Its deliberately provoking a violent response. And there is nothing wrong with recognizing that to be the case. Whether you are yelling fire, mocking drunk hockey fans, or provoking muslim extremists...

    222. Re:Why? by James+McGuigan · · Score: 1

      True, Assange may have fallen victim to bad luck and a couple of women scorned.

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11949341">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11949341
      http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11049316
      http://www.euronews.com/2012/08/16/julian-assange-and-wikileaks-timeline-of-events/

      The sex happened less than a month after the public release of Afghan war documents, and the warrant for his arrest was initially canceled the day after it was issued (20-21 August 2010), for the implied reason of lack of evidence.

      Within 10 days, the case is taken over by a different Swedish prosecutor (Marianne Ny), who reopens the case, Assange is questioned by police in Stockholm (31 August 2010) and 3 months later (20 November 2010) an international arrest warrant is issued for his arrest in the UK. Marianne Ny) tells AFP that overturning another prosecutor's decision was "not an ordinary (procedure), but not so out of the ordinary either".

      Then we have had all the bureaucratic shenanigans in the UK with Assange handing himself in, appealing to the high court, getting bail subject to house arrest, and then acquiring political asylum with Ecuador but no actual way out of the country.

      There is suggestion, but not proof, that "US diplomatic pressure" was brought to bear behind the scenes to have the case reopened by a different prosecutor. The recent release of the Afghan War Diaries would at the very least have made Assange, and those around him, an active CIA observation target.

      Regardless of the morality or legality of his actual actions, my point is that due to his "political crime" of wikileaks, it behoves US interests to have the man behind bars, regardless of what he is actually charged with, or in which country. There is also the question that if it where not for his fame/infamy, that the case may never have been reopened. My suggestion is that if Assange was just an unknown average Joe, there is a reasonable probability that in practice the case would have been dropped and he would now be free. But "Assange + Afghan War Diaries" means he his now effectively under house arrest in the Ecuadorian embassy.

      The difference in theory is the addition of the "political crime" and the difference in practice is that he is effectively imprisoned.

    223. Re:Why? by russotto · · Score: 2

      The "shouting fire in a crowded theatre" example dates back to 1919. A time when theatres didn't have convenient "break glass" fire alarms all around, and without today's health and safety and buiilding regs, theatres burning down with audiences unable to escape wasn't that uncommon. Back then if someone shouted fire, you'd have been well advised to get the hell out as soon as possible - very much more so than if a fire alarm rang today.

      Also, the films themselves were made of nitrocellulose, which is ridiculously flammable.

      However, the "fire in a crowded theatre" decision (Schenck v. US) was a bad one.... and it's no longer good law. The current standard is from Brandenburg v. Ohio, the "imminent lawless action" test.

    224. Re:Why? by russotto · · Score: 2

      It's called "reckless disregard". He knew the film would create outrage and protests that could endanger others.

      The protestors are responsible for their actions, the filmmaker is not. To claim otherwise is to reduce the protestors to the status of mere machines with no moral value whatsoever. If they are mere machines, I suggest we turn them off. If they are not mere machines, they are responsible. If everyone is a machine (including the filmmaker), responsibility is irrelevant

      The oft-cited "fire in a crowded theater" analogy postulates a situation where a person cannot -- because of a threatened emergency -- make a rational decision. In that case, the consequences of his forced decision may be attributed to the person falsely claiming an emergency. That simply isn't the case here; the protestors decisions were not forced by circumstance.

    225. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If I yell "Mohammed liked a good pork BBQ brisket", and you are a Muslim, you don't HAVE to riot in the streets. Your life is not in danger.

      If they don't defend the faith, their eternal life might be in danger. They'd rather burn alive in a movie theater than suffer an infidel to blaspheme.

    226. Re:Why? by Psyborgue · · Score: 2

      Further evidence: it comes just one day after Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, and others all went to the UN and demanded anti-blasphemy laws and that the filmmaker be punished. It's absolutely a capitulation to savages. Even in the off chance that the the order to arrest Nakoula did not come from the top, that's the way it's going to be perceived on the arab street. Its going to tell all the savage rioters that they can get their way through violence and as a result there is going to be more of it.

    227. Re:Why? by Psyborgue · · Score: 1

      Not according to the left. They're nothing more than wild animals to them. To demand they act with the same ability to control themselves as everybody else is met with accusations of "Bigotry" and "Racism" on the other hand. It's a "soft bigotry of low expectations".

    228. Re:Why? by Psyborgue · · Score: 1

      If there is no objective right or wrong, no objective morality, then how is projecting our morality on to them wrong? If there is no right or wrong why not conquer their countries, slaughter their religious casts, and drag them screaming into the modern era (as the soviets successfully did in Azerbaijan Tajikistan and attempted to do in Afghanistan). In my view your demand that Arab Muslims be coddled and carefully tiptoed around for lack of self control is far more racist and bigoted than to demand they be held to the same standards as everybody else.

    229. Re:Why? by Psyborgue · · Score: 1

      Nevemind. Dind't read the full post before commenting. Doh.

    230. Re:Why? by vakuona · · Score: 1

      I take it you didn't watch, (or hear about) his speech at the UN then. Or any of the statements made in which they repeatedly said free speech was protected in America.

      Or are you accusing him of not using your exact words?

    231. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The moral of the story is that if you are planning on creating a diplomatic incident or significantly challenging or embarrassing the political establishment, then you better have a squeaky clean past and not expose yourself to any legal liabilities by "technically" breaking the law. Once you are in the spotlight, the normal rules of flying under the radar no longer apply and if the government can find any dirt on you, and they will be suddenly be looking closely for it, they will find a way to make it stick.

      You deluded fool. As if the powers that be would be incapable of making shit up.

    232. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      His film killed no one. People reacting to the film may have. Most likely it wasn't over the film but an organized terrorist attack which had nothing to do with the film.

      Have you seen his film? I think some people may have been bored to death!

      All religion is batshit insane.

    233. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You are of course right in feeling outrage if someone got jailed for free speech as I would be. But he didn't he got arrested for clear probation violations after committing a serious crime and selective prosecution is almost as detrimental to democracies as infringements on free speech.

    234. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're not interested in discussion, as you claim in your closed journal. You are a drive-by troll. Which explains why your journal isn't open. Please, go away.

    235. Re:Why? by Xyrus · · Score: 1

      The US Administration decided it was politically expedient to have this man in jail for his "political crime". The technical method of achieving this goal, as they are only allowed to wield their power according to the "letter of the law", they hired a detective to dig up the dirt on him and "find a law" which which to charge him. Had his film not caused the diplomatic incident, he probably would have flown under the radar and not been noticed by the authorities, and thus still be a free man.

      Nice try, but this guy has a lengthy criminal record. He was out on parole, with two explicit conditions. One was to not use a computer. Two was not to use false aliases (which he did in the past when scamming people). They didn't need to hire a detective or any special agents. He violated the terms of his parole, and in the process became infamous. The local authorities recognized him and arrested him for violating his parole.

      He wasn't "technically" breaking the law. He broke the law. The fact that he's a sociopathic asshole is irrelevant.

      The only moral of the story is don't break the law and don't violate the terms of your probation.

      --
      ~X~
    236. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your logic has a huge flaw in it. It assumes the parole officer knew he was making the movie but according to reports he used aliases and even duped the people who were in the movie. His parole officer most likely has a huge number of cases and this guy just slipped through the cracks until news organizations focused on him. Parole officers aren't checking you tube but I bet they catch the evening news. Take off your tin foil hat. The government isn't out to get you.

    237. Re:Why? by Jawnn · · Score: 1

      This is a foolish over-simplification of a complex problem. Religion, by definition, requires belief, sometimes passionate belief. I have no problem with passionate belief, as long as it doesn't involve others in any way. To suggest that we should tolerate, appease, or "avoid inflaming" this or that religion's passionate followers is to focus on the wrong thing and legitimizes, tacitly at least, their irrational and anti-social behavior.

      While I would never do it, because I don't believe in deliberately offending people, I should be able to publish a video of someone pissing on an image of "The Prophet", or Jesus, or TFSM, without having to fear that some religious idiot will kill me over it.

    238. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know, I'm a law abiding citizen who holds a full time job and has a family and stays out of trouble. However, I do owe some back taxes to Califorinia (about three grand) because of a small inheritence I got after my mom died (her retirement fund of 30 grand was willed to me which the governement took a heafty 42% at the time). So, I have a very sneaking suspicion that if it was me that posted that movie online, somehow, some government authority would have arrested me on tax evasaion and whatever other trumped up charges they could smash against me.

      It's because of these things that the arrest of this guy for baseless charges is a bad thing here in the US. Political pressure from a relgious group mostly based outside of our country should have absolutely no bearing on what we as US citizen can do in conjunction with the bill or rights which so many of our ancestors died defending so we could have such freedoms.

    239. Re:Why? by multicoregeneral · · Score: 1

      Since when do we care about what Jihadists think?

      --
      This signature intentionally left blank.
    240. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bombs, firestarters, drive-by shootings and murderous goons in general don't much care about collateral damage.

    241. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is so cute that you still believe in equal justice under the law. It's just so precious.

    242. Re:Why? by elucido · · Score: 1

      I hope most Americans haven't sunk so low that we'll give up our freedom of speech so easily. We've given up so many freedoms for various reasons - the freedom to choose who we hire and fire, the freedom to choose who we rent apartments too, the freedom to get a new job without notifying the authorities, the freedom to choose whether to allow smoking inside private businesses. In most cases many of us would behave consistent with what the laws says we must do anyway, but we still know the chains are there and the chafe us.

      Freedom of speech is even more fundamental. Indeed it is almost as important as that bedrock of all freedoms, freedom of religion. That someone would willingly surrender our freedom of religion because of how some evil people ten thousand miles away react is beyond comprehension or description. .

      Where were you when rappers were being jailed and threatened by politicians for their lyrics?

    243. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're right. Ambassador Susan Rice only speaks for herself and not the U.S. government on the Sunday talk shows. Only a n00b would believe an ambassador to the U.N. anyway.

    244. Re:Why? by elucido · · Score: 1

      While you are mostly correct, it really wasn't my point. I am referring to the immediacy of the situation. The idea is that in one situation there's a real possibility for immediate danger, the second situation is just so rediculously the opposite but here we are comparing and contrasting because it's appearantly not obvious.

      Unless the people in the audience already were smelling smoke. This isn't the first situation like this. The USA has been dropping bombs and getting people killed in the middle east for a decade now. They have every right to hate the USA and when they perceive that an individual who has been outed as an informant was acting on the orders of the USA then they aren't being irrational to assume the USA is at war with Islam.

      That is the problem, the intolerance seems to come from the US government itself and even be endorsed by the US Constitution. If you're an American citizen you can understand the US Constitution and the nuances but if you're not and you don't even speak English but all you know is that an FBI operated informant releases a hate film against Islam and you're smart enough to know the FBI is the US government, you don't have tounderstand or even have read the US Constitution to reach the conclusion that there is an immediate attack going on.

      Unfortunately you ignore the fact that Libyans have been attacked and under dictatorships for so long that they don't think an FBI informant could act against the interest of the US government. They probably think the USA is run like how Libya was run.

    245. Re:Why? by elucido · · Score: 1

      Unpopular speach is not yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater. A crowd that exits a theater quickly is behaving rationally based on deception. There is no choice to stay in the burning theater. The people who rioted in the middle east did so because they chose too. The did so because they were encouraged to riot by their leaders. Billions of people chose to do nothing when they learned of his video.

      The problem is the video that was released was a deception. I'm not saying the violent response was correct but considering the limited access to information they have in Libya how would they know any better? Any foreign government could take advantage of that video to radicalize which is probably what happened. Thanks to that film maker there will be thousands if not millions of new terrorists potentially created.

      And to think the Film maker is an FBI informant on top of all this. Wired reported it and so did HuffingtonPost http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/17/nakoula-basseley-nakoula-federal-informant_n_1891661.html

      So not only is he a hater of Muslims but he's an FBI snitch too. If you're a Libyan reading into this then it wouldn't be difficult for a foreign sponsored terrorist group to radicalize you. Americans get radicalized by people like Alex Jones into believing in FEMA camps and UN dictatorship on US soil so why is it difficult to believe that Libyans would be radicalized in the same way?

    246. Re:Why? by elucido · · Score: 1

      It's called "reckless disregard". He knew the film would create outrage and protests that could endanger others.

      The protestors are responsible for their actions, the filmmaker is not. To claim otherwise is to reduce the protestors to the status of mere machines with no moral value whatsoever. If they are mere machines, I suggest we turn them off. If they are not mere machines, they are responsible. If everyone is a machine (including the filmmaker), responsibility is irrelevant

      The oft-cited "fire in a crowded theater" analogy postulates a situation where a person cannot -- because of a threatened emergency -- make a rational decision. In that case, the consequences of his forced decision may be attributed to the person falsely claiming an emergency. That simply isn't the case here; the protestors decisions were not forced by circumstance.

      Responsibility isn't the issue. The terrorists are like machines in that they are made to act in ways which benefit foreign governments through brainwashing and manipulation. The protesters aren't the same as the terrorists. Protesters have a choice, terrorists do not and are acting as agents of foreign governments in some cases unknowingly. Do they make choices, yes but not with correct information and not without coercion and psychological blackmail of the sort where if they don't do it they aren't a good Muslim. It's similar to churches saying in the USA that if you vote for Obama you'll go to hell, the people in that church who truly believe in that are a cult and do not have complete free will.

      We cannot just shut them off because there are millions of people like this on all sides. Christians, Muslims, Jews, and governments use them all. Some of the best people get used in some of the worst ways by some of the worst people.

    247. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some people will always find a fault in the opposition. Imagine if the police or DA had not charged him for his probation violation. Then Obama would be accused of meddling in local justice issues because for the mere sake of political appearances.

      I suspect if Obama was even asked about the situation he would have said that it was up to local law enforcement and justice officials and not a matter for the head state.

    248. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He was a felon on parole. He violated his parole. THAT is what makes this illegal.

    249. Re:Why? by niftymitch · · Score: 1

      Yes, these people clearly had no choice but to kill a human being because they watched a video.

      Not quite.
      Many had not seen the video only heard second, third... hand that it was "bad".

      Like lash/dot when all the content spins on something not said
      in the original slashdot post or original reference that may or may
      not have check-able facts.

      --
      Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't. Mark Twain.
    250. Re:Why? by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      Suppose I pass a law stating that it is illegal to breathe. You say something bad about the President, and a cop notices you and arrests you for breathing.

      Face it, you were breaking the law. Rot in jail...

      That's the problem with this kind of logic. When you allow government to treat people in arbitrary ways simply because they are criminals, the next step is to just classify everybody as a criminal.

      If the guy committed a crime while on parole I'd be fine with revoking his parole. However, he did not commit a crime - he just violated the conditions of his parole. I'm not a big fan of having conditions on parole in the first place - unless they are purely rehabilitative in nature (report in every day for job training, or whatever).

    251. Re:Why? by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      When did he give a false name to authorities? He posted a youtube video under a name other than his own, but youtube isn't "an authority."

    252. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Whoever the fucktard was that wrote someone's religious blatherings, nothing the asshat (or asshats) wrote gives anyone the right to kill anyone else regardless of what they do to his image or his beliefs. This applies to Mohammed, Jesus, the disciples, and especially that fucktard the pope. Hell, Catholics have killed more people due to their greed and ignorance than any other religion. Get a clue Catholics - your pope is a person, not some magically imbued holy personage.
      And please, stop pretending that wine is blood, and bread is body - otherwise all you're doing is teaching Vampirism and Cannibalism on a grand scale.

      Followers of the writings of Mohammed, get it through your thick fucking skulls - you have ZERO right to demand anyone be captured, killed or any other thing because they don't follow your beliefs or do something that otherwise just pisses you the fuck off. Too bad, if it makes you mad - go kill yourself, because yourself is the only person you have the right to kill, and to be honest, anyone who believes it's okay to kill someone because they violate some mandate written by a fallible human should leave this planet post-haste because you're making the place more dangerous for everyone else who lives here.

      If you can't control your urges, we have weapons that can control it for you. Think about it - stop having childlike tantrums because someone disobeys a belief that they don't share, otherwise, we (the rest of the civilized world) will put you down like the sick, demented animals you are.

      There is absolutely no justification in any religion that automatically grants you the right to kill someone else. So please, get over yourselves and your delusions of righteousness.

    253. Re:Why? by sh3p · · Score: 1

      The fact that he has spoken at length in multiple speeches against this film, without one word in support of the concept that even hateful speech is Free Speech and protected in America.

      Untrue. Just last week, during his UN Speech, Obama did exactly that:

      http://articles.latimes.com/2012/sep/25/world/la-fg-obama-un-20120926

    254. Re:Why? by heefeneet · · Score: 1

      What about us little-endians, you insensitive clod?

      I hear there are pills you can take for that.

    255. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So funny that you used a quote from L. Ron Hubbard... since he contrived of a religion that would make his followers happy to give ALL their money to him.

    256. Re:Why? by amicusNYCL · · Score: 1

      That's a pretty bleak, pessimistic view of government. While we can both acknowledge that neither of us know what goes on in the White House, I imagine that instead of this:

      CIA: A US youtube user posted a video the Muslims consider offensive, they are demanding we do something about it

      Obama: I want to know everything I can about this video, who, when, where, why, how... and I want it now!

      It would be more like this:

      CIA: A US youtube user posted a video the Muslims consider offensive, they are demanding we do something about it

      Obama: Not this shit again...

      The president is a pretty busy guy, I doubt he's sitting around the office waiting for some new international outrage that he can jump to investigate. The rest of your dialog appears motivated by an assumption that Obama wants to do whatever he can to appease the Muslim world while simultaneously, and surreptitiously, acting against American ideals. I don't have the same beliefs as you do regarding our government.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    257. Re:Why? by amicusNYCL · · Score: 1

      Who says Nakoula personally posted it on Youtube?

      He does, to his probation officer.

      Who says he used a fake name (which name did he use?)?

      He used "Sam Bassiel" in the casting call for the movie. This was posted after he was released, so probation terms were in effect. He has admitted being the producer, the producer is listed as "Sam Bassiel", and his name is not "Sam Bassiel", so therefore he used an alias. He's not the only one with an alias, the character "George" is Muhammad.

      Well, the cop sitting across the street waiting for me to back out my driveway so he can use any excuse to stop me and search my car and otherwise harass me might be a problem.

      Where do you live that you have problems with cops enforcing Sharia law? Or is this just a hypothetical excuse-to-be-afraid situation that isn't going to happen in the United States?

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    258. Re:Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What a fucked up back-story this guy has.
      How do you go from being a Coptic, born in Egypt , moving to USA
      Then manufacturing meth, to being involved in a check fraud scheme, to making a video like this.... With half a mill in funding supposedly from of all things a Israeli??
      If this was a movie I'd pan it as being silly....

      Seriously, is he actually some kind of professional agent provocateur?
      Drugs and identity and bank fraud were used repeatedly in the cold war to fund things on both sides for spy games.
      Smuggling and black market goods was what was used in the past for cash for rebels.

      Do we really know who this guy is?

    259. Re:Why? by strikethree · · Score: 1

      Hm. This is a nasty case. There is no doubt he broke his probation if he admitted to it to his probation/parole officer. I am not sure stage names should be considered an alias for legal purposes but my opinion really does not matter. You have more or less satisfied my skepticism of the actual charges... but I do have to wonder if anybody would have cared about his terms of probation/parole if he did not give a sizable chunk of the world a reason to hate him.

      Where do you live that you have problems with cops enforcing Sharia law? Or is this just a hypothetical excuse-to-be-afraid situation that isn't going to happen in the United States?

      San Diego California USA. Not that they are enforcing Sharia law, but that they will do those things that I mentioned when someone THINKS (absolutely no proof) you escaped justice for a crime they THINK (because they think everyone is as evil as them) you committed.

      --
      "Someone needs to talk to the tree of liberty about its ghoulish drinking problem." by ohnocitizen
    260. Re:Why? by Khyber · · Score: 1

      "Why don't you fucking join the 21st century?"

      Because I'm already well ahead of the barbaric century that this has become, and regression doesn't befit me. Seems to do well for you though, anonymous barbarian.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    261. Re:Why? by amicusNYCL · · Score: 1

      I am not sure stage names should be considered an alias for legal purposes but my opinion really does not matter.

      I'm sure there's some leeway there, but this guy specifically has a pretty solid history of using aliases when he's committing crimes, several of them are listed in the first paragraph here. It sounds like when he was receiving probation that the judge was basically fed up with him using aliases and ordered that as one of the conditions. That's just another privilege that he lost, for most of us it's fine if we want to use an alias but if he's going to abuse that then the judge revoked that privilege for him.

      but I do have to wonder if anybody would have cared about his terms of probation/parole if he did not give a sizable chunk of the world a reason to hate him.

      Doubtful, other than that it looks like his major crimes are manufacturing meth and stealing money from banks. In other words, a relatively small-time criminal. A mastermind this guy is not.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
  3. Well, let's see what happens. by xevioso · · Score: 5, Informative

    They should have done this weeks ago. It was clear he violated his probation from the beginning.

    It's very important for Muslims across the world to understand that he was NOT arrested and jailed for the CONTENT of that movie, but because he continually provided false aliases to the judge and the police in violation of his probation.

    I wonder if the protesters in Egypt will understand this...my guess is probably not.

    1. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by EverlastingPhelps · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It's very important for Muslims across the world to understand that he was NOT arrested and jailed for the CONTENT of that movie, but because he continually provided false aliases to the judge and the police in violation of his probation.

      I wonder if the protesters in Egypt will understand this...my guess is probably not.

      There's no chance that the Muslim world will see this as anything but censorship. First of all, let's be clear -- they are right when they see it that way. That's what it is. He would have never come to the attention of anyone had the state not been embarrassed by this.

      Second, these are people who are protesting about a youtube clip that the vast majority of them haven't even seen, and only know of by word of mouth. That sort of Telephone game is never going get that sort of nuance across, even if it were true, which of course, it isn't.

    2. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think the protesters will understand. They simply wont care as they believe that anyone who depicts Mohammed should be put to death. For them, there is no grey area.

    3. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by tnk1 · · Score: 1

      The Piss Christ artist isn't on probation after being convicted of an actual offense. This means he's not going to get arrested, unless something actually does change, as opposed to you just thinking it has.

    4. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by cpghost · · Score: 1

      t's very important for Muslims across the world to understand that he was NOT arrested and jailed for the CONTENT of that movie, but because he continually provided false aliases to the judge and the police in violation of his probation.

      Don't worry: Muslims with a brain will understand this perfectly. And those without a brain (i.e. the violent rioters) will think that Obama had arrested this guy for his film... and stop rioting as a result. So what? As long as the rioters crawl back under the stone they emerged from, and calm is restored, everything is okay, operationally speaking. What do WE care that the reason they calmed down was flawed? It doesn't matter one tiny bit.

      --
      cpghost at Cordula's Web.
    5. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You're saying "He would have never come to the attention of anyone had the state not been embarrassed by this." is completely disingenuous.

      If he had performed activities in violation of parole in a manner which they weren't noticed by authorities, he wouldn't have been in trouble, regardless of who is "embarrassed".

    6. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by xevioso · · Score: 4, Insightful

      How and where did Obama come down on the side of censorship?

    7. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by sl4shd0rk · · Score: 1

      I wonder if the protesters in Egypt will understand this...my guess is probably not.

      Easy to tell. The muslims who 'get it' won't be the ones jumping around and shouting like crazy-asses while setting fire to shit.

      --
      Join the Slashcott! Feb 10 thru Feb 17!
    8. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by xevioso · · Score: 5, Informative

      Bullshit. This man was not arrested for antyhing he said in any video. he was arrested because he violated the terms of his probation, which included NOT GIVING FALSE ALIASES TO AUTHORITIES, something he apparently has a pathological tendency to do.

      He came to the attention of the state because he has previously been tried and convicted of multiple crimes. He was on probation. The state of California is not embarrassed by anything this man said.

      It looks like there was one very pissed off judge who refused to give him bail because he is a pathological liar. The California legal system deals with these sorts of people all the time.

    9. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's no chance that the Muslim world will see this as anything but censorship. First of all, let's be clear -- they are right when they see it that way. That's what it is. He would have never come to the attention of anyone had the state not been embarrassed by this.

      So he wouldn't have been in violation of his parole by using a computer if no one knew about it? I'm pretty sure a crime is still a crime even if no one knows about it.

    10. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Rod-ney-King! Rod-ney-King!

    11. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Talderas · · Score: 1

      Because we should hold conviction for the principles, freedoms, and liberties this nation stands for.

      --
      "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
    12. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not censorship if the offending material is still available, which it is. As has been stated by others, this guy is a criminal and the fact that he drew attention to himself while exercising his first amendment rights doesn't supercede his responsibility for his criminal behavior. Many criminals on the run do stupid things to draw attention to themselves and get arrested. The difference in this case is that the stupid thing was really, really stupid in a very public way.
      You are right though that the nuanced message to the Muslim world will probably be lost, primarily because they don't view speech in the same way that we do. That's too bad and hopefully we can all work on bridging the gaps between us.

    13. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by tgd · · Score: 1

      They should have done this weeks ago. It was clear he violated his probation from the beginning.

      It's very important for Muslims across the world to understand that he was NOT arrested and jailed for the CONTENT of that movie, but because he continually provided false aliases to the judge and the police in violation of his probation.

      I wonder if the protesters in Egypt will understand this...my guess is probably not.

      The first amendment is a bit of a nuanced thing, and I'm not sure how well people (particularly outside the US) really understand it. We need to make clear he wasn't arrested for the content of the movie, but its *not* against the 1st amendment to arrest him because of the *results* of releasing the movie. You have every right to shout "fire" in a packed theater, but the 1st amendment doesn't grant you immunity from being criminally charged as a result of it. The speech isn't illegal, but inciting a panic may be.

      Along the same lines, its not unreasonable to think he could've been held criminally liable as an accessory to the murders in Libya, if they're proven to actually be related to the movie, if it could be proved that he made the movie explicitly to incite that kind of reaction. (Which, allegedly, he did.)

      In a lot of the middle east, you can be arrested for saying something. Here in the US, you can still be arrested because of the *result* of saying something, but not because you said it. (For example, if you threaten to kill someone -- and they believe you mean it -- you've committed a crime.)

    14. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 2

      Yup. His video could've been some insanely popular stupid viral video with trained chihuahuas juggling - end result would've been the same (assuming the video received significant attention for some positive reason). Jail time for parole violation.

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    15. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 1

      It is... But if you commit a crime, and no one knows you committed it, you're probably not going to get punished for it. It simply isn't possible for someone to punish you for a crime if they don't know that you committed it.

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    16. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I dunno, let me check with Bradley Manning real quick.

    17. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Straif · · Score: 1

      I'll have to assume your post was missing a /sarc tag because otherwise I'd have to be faced with the idea that there are actually people proposing that being seen as bowing to pressure from violent extremists in order to satisfy their demands, even if not actually the case, is a good thing because of it's immediate short term gain.

      Because as everyone knows, the positive reinforcement of bowing to terrorist threats always leads to a feedback loop of love and understanding and never leads to any sort of future problems. And just to be clear, that last sentence was sarcasm.

      --
      Of course that's just my opinion...... you could be wrong!
    18. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by xevioso · · Score: 1

      When you sign up with the military, you promise not to divulge secrets. Manning divulged secrets. Prosecuting him for doing something he said he wouldn't do isn't censorship.

    19. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by xevioso · · Score: 4, Informative

      Actually, it easily could have been that. People are arrested for violating the terms of their parole when those terms involve "Do not contact Person X" and they click a Facebook Like button.

      If you are told not to get on the internet, and you post a chihuahua youtube video, you could very easily end up before a Judge. And if you give said Judge a false name, you could wind up in Jail.

    20. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by SecurityTheatre · · Score: 1

      The problem here is that it does set a precedent that... if you don't like Western values, just riot, kill a few of them and the problem goes away...

      That's a seriously bad thing.

    21. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think it's also worth noting that, according to a few news reports I've heard now, the protesters in Egypt also do not understand that in the U.S. people have both the right and the ability to publish these sorts of things.

      Instead, when you're used to strong government censorship, anything coming out of the U.S. looks like it has the government's seal of approval, if not complicity in its production.

      We could wish (and I do) for the protestors to understand both points, but understanding just one is, IMO, A Bad Thing (TM).

      m!

    22. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      they are not right to see it that way. if you break the rules and then draw a massive amount of attention to yourself and in doing so advertise you broke these rules, how the hell is the government supposed to get away with not enforcing their own laws? if they let him go, then it'd look like they're forgiving him of his crimes. if the government knows you broke the law and the public knows that the government knows, how can you not prosecute?

    23. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by s.petry · · Score: 1

      Mmm, that darkness must taste really good huh? Obama's administration has targeted journalists during his whole administration. Journalists are subpoenaed for sources in all kinds of things. You can start here but there are countless journalist that have in court forced to reveal sources, cases brought on by the White House thank you very much. New York Post recently had a whistle blower tell how the CIA must approve things before they are published, CNN has been the same.

      Wake up man, the administration is for censorship. Have to look outside of main stream media to find the reports of course, but there is a lot there.

      --

      -The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.

    24. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think you have a fucking clue what "censorship" means. Arresting him doesn't unpost the movie.

      Asshat.

    25. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes... but the problem is, what if the another guy comes along, someone who isn't a parole violator, makes a film where Muhammad simply appears, and they go apeshit demanding we arrest this one too. Because we arrested the last one, didn't we? I'm not saying you're wrong, I'm just saying the precedent could be dangerous.

    26. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fuck, are you kidding? Why explain anything or bend anything for them - remember *they* are the ones who've determined that we are wrong no matter what we say and that we must be destroyed at all costs. Kiss my ass on your religion when you force it on me.

    27. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by butchersong · · Score: 1

      It most certainly would be direct violation of the 1st ammendment if he were in any way penalized for making the film. This isn't "there's a bomb about to go off everyone run!" in a crowded building. This is a guy expressing contempt for someone elses belief system. He can poke as much fun at anyone he desires as often as he likes.

    28. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It is... But if you commit a crime, and no one knows you committed it, you're probably not going to get punished for it. It simply isn't possible for someone to punish you for a crime if they don't know that you committed it.

      This guy's probation stipulated that he wasn't supposed to use a computer or be on the internet. When he posted an infamous video online that drew a lot of attention, he was arrested simply because he violated his parole, not because of the content of the video. My question to the OP is, how is that censorship?

    29. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Kreigaffe · · Score: 1

      Uh, no, they won't understand that. They won't even care that he was arrested. Wanna know the only bit of this they might hear and care about?

      If the guy gets any protection at all -- if any effort is made to prevent him from being killed -- that, they will hear. That, they will be told is the US gov't supporting his video. And they'll riot again, because gosh they wanted to kill people anyway so here's a handy excuse.

      --
      ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
    30. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They had to find anything on that guy....and they did. A minor demeanor would suffice, but fortunately the idiot was on probation - and violated it.
      Reminds a bit of the Assange case, doesn't it. Quite a coincidence, both for him and this crazy guy.

    31. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Chrisq · · Score: 0

      I wonder if the protesters in Egypt will understand this...my guess is probably not.

      Easy to tell. The muslims who 'get it' won't be the ones jumping around and shouting like crazy-asses while setting fire to shit.

      The muslims who "get it" will leave that violent savage religion and no longer e muslims. Unfortunately that alone is punishable by death under sharia (muzzie) law.

    32. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's no chance that the Muslim world will see this as anything but censorship. First of all, let's be clear -- they are right when they see it that way. That's what it is. He would have never come to the attention of anyone had the state not been embarrassed by this.

      While you're correct about how most of the Muslim world will perceive it, there's no need to evince some Evil Censorship Conspiracy in it.

      People who do something that puts an egg on the authorities' face having the book thrown at them is standard operating procedure for anyone who crosses an authority-based organization (which government organizations including the police are, by delegation from higher levels ultimately leading back to the Constitution). This is both as retaliation and because organizations aren't omniscient and don't have unlimited resources to track everyone who crosses them perfectly and so seek to loudly punish those they do catch in the belief it will deter others from the same offense. Well-known standard behaviors aren't a conspiracy.

      If you know your boss will fire you if he gets an excuse and then you give him one (in a way that gets the attention of the entire world, and ends with widely respected people dead), you better believe you're going to be fired.

    33. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by RazorSharp · · Score: 1

      Because we should hold conviction for the principles, freedoms, and liberties this nation stands for.

      People always talk of these principles as if some consensus exists as to what they actually are. Is it the freedom to exploit others or the freedom to not be exploited?Also, what's the difference between freedom and liberty? Aren't the principles you're referring to a single principle, that of liberty? So you have a list of three redundant items. Stylistically, it's effective rhetoric as a list of reasons always sounds more authoritative than a single reason, but this is /. where pedantic nerds such as myself hang out so that shit just won't fly.

      One more gripe: Why ought we hold conviction to this principle of liberty? You say it as if it's self-evident. Shoulds are rarely self-evident.

      --
      "From the depths of my skeptical and rationalist soul, I ask the Lord to protect me from California touchie-feeliedom."
    34. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Along the same lines, its not unreasonable to think he could've been held criminally liable as an accessory to the murders in Libya, if they're proven to actually be related to the movie, if it could be proved that he made the movie explicitly to incite that kind of reaction. (Which, allegedly, he did.)

      Damn you are retarded. I hate you so fucking much.

    35. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Cl1mh4224rd · · Score: 1

      There's no chance that the Muslim world will see this as anything but censorship. First of all, let's be clear -- they are right when they see it that way. That's what it is. He would have never come to the attention of anyone had the state not been embarrassed by this.

      Holy shit, what? Arresting a person who created a free speech issue that brought attention to his parole violations is not censorship. You can't let obvious crimes go unpunished simply because the perpetrator happened to create a rights issue separate from his crime. That's insane.

      --
      People will pass up steak once a week, for crap every day.
    36. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Cl1mh4224rd · · Score: 1

      Actually, it easily could have been that. People are arrested for violating the terms of their parole when those terms involve "Do not contact Person X" and they click a Facebook Like button.

      If you are told not to get on the internet, and you post a chihuahua youtube video, you could very easily end up before a Judge. And if you give said Judge a false name, you could wind up in Jail.

      I knew a person who was arrested because he did something as non-offensive as missing a meeting with his parole officer. They don't like that sort of thing.

      --
      People will pass up steak once a week, for crap every day.
    37. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by superwiz · · Score: 1

      There is 0% chance that your are correct. He was definitely, without a doubt, arrested because he made a video offensive to Muslims. This President is unquestionably quashing 1st amendment rights of this man. 20 (TWENTY) police officers arrived to arrest him on probation violation. He has no history of violence. This overwhelming show of force could have only been applied because of an order from above.

      --
      Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
    38. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You could, yes. But would it be as likely as if you'd done something that embarrassed the federal government?

      The fact that this guy has been arrested isn't proof that the government is engaged in censorship: it's just weak statistical evidence, to the extent that the arrest rate for parole violation in general is less than 100%.

    39. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Bullshit. This man was not arrested for antyhing he said in any video. he was arrested because he violated the terms of his probation

      Even if (!) that's true, the ignorant muslim masses won't see it that way. And that's unfortunate. Sure, it might do some good right now, calm some idiots down, but long term it will be seen as a blow to our freedom of expression (regardless of the technicalities regarding the guy's arrest).

    40. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You do realize that not jailing this nitwith for fear of how it might appear would itself be bowing to "pressure from violent extremists". You can't oppose that shit, you can only ignore it until they actually go after you.

    41. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by ptkdb · · Score: 1
      Obama requested YouTube to take down the video. 'Nuf Said.

      YouTube(read Google) has so far refused to do so. Putting Nakoula back in cuffs is just the legal process taking its course. It's a wait and see if the administration, or its agencies, does anything to try and strong-arm Google into complying with their wishes. "Golly, maybe it's time we looked at net neutrality again, this time by executive order, perhaps an amicus brief on behalf of the government the next time Apple takes another swing at Android. Maybe you are a monopoly."

      As for Nakoula's arrest, Obama gets a free pass there. Nakoula is one among thousands of criminals on probation flouting the terms of their release, "don't associate with known fellons", "don't possess a gun", "don't get a job involving children", "don't use the internet"(because his crime involved using the internet as part of his scheme). And they manage to do so because they are not attracting any attention in the process, keeping their heads down, staying under the radar. To say the least, he failed those two maxims BIG TIME. It would be like a child molester on probation running over a fire hydrant in front of a school.

    42. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 1

      It isn't.

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
    43. Re:Well, let's see what happens. by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 1

      Yup. That said, if no one views the chihuahua youtube video, it might not come to the attention of the right people that you were the one who posted it.

      If it goes viral, it attracts far more attention, and regardless of whether it is positive attention or negative, the attention makes it pretty clear that someone violated their parole.

      --
      retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
  4. Even murderers get released on bond by fustakrakich · · Score: 0

    But this guy? No no no. Lying to a cop is a much bigger offense

    Investigators have not yet provided details about how Nakoula allegedly violated probation, but it seems clear that his involvement in the "Innocence of Muslim" production is central to the government's new charge.

    Makes sense..

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    1. Re:Even murderers get released on bond by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Not if they're a flight risk, which Nakoula most likely is.

    2. Re:Even murderers get released on bond by Mononoke · · Score: 2

      If you've violated probation, you've shown to the courts that you cannot be trusted. No bond is the correct action here.

      --
      NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
    3. Re:Even murderers get released on bond by Baloroth · · Score: 2

      Getting bail has jack shit to do with how serious your crime was, and everything to do with a) your likelihood of commiting another crime while out (very small for most murderers), and b) your trustworthiness, i.e. the likelihood the government will have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars tracking you down after you jump bail. In other words, it's an expression of how much the government trusts you to behave. Breaking probation indicates he is untrustworthy: therefore, no bail.

      --
      "None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license." --John Milton
    4. Re:Even murderers get released on bond by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      Not when they're deemed a flight risk, like this guy and Bernie Madof (who also was denied bond for the same reason).

    5. Re:Even murderers get released on bond by pastafazou · · Score: 1

      yes, he's definitely a flight risk. With the entire Muslim world itching to behead him, I'm sure he'd rather flee the extremely dangerous confines of the US for a much safer destination, such as Egypt, Libya, Pakistan, Albania, Kosovo, Spain, France, Thailand........

    6. Re:Even murderers get released on bond by pastafazou · · Score: 1

      So, a $100,000 bond wouldn't be a pretty safe guarantee of him not fleeing?

    7. Re:Even murderers get released on bond by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      C'mon, the guy's a chump. Failure to release details of his 'violations' should raise lots of suspicion. In fact the whole thing smells of a coverup and is starting to sound less believable every day. Not that I ever did believe the movie had anything to do with anything except to serve as a diversion, like most stories on the middle east from mass media.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    8. Re:Even murderers get released on bond by Hatta · · Score: 2

      We're not talking about bond, we're talking about parole. And yes, murderers get released on parole just like this guy was. And when murderers violate that parole, just like this guy did, they get put back in prison, just like this guy will.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    9. Re:Even murderers get released on bond by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      As stated, there is insufficient data to determine if he violated anything. Try not to assume that the government is being truthful.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  5. Umm, I don't get it by Revotron · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The situation is a win-win for the Obama administration, who can now appear to be punishing the man whose film sparked protests and riots around the world.

    This is outrageously ridiculous. Why would it be a "win-win" for the Obama administration to appear to be punishing someone for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech?

    1. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Kenja · · Score: 1

      No clue. It's really an unwinnable situation from a public opinion perspective. Its one of those things like gun ownership. Yes you should have the right to own a gun. No you should not own a loaded AK-47 if you live in an apartment building in a city. Yes the idiot in question should have the right to post such a movie, but he really shouldn't exercise that right. Not because of the response, which is unjustifiable, but because its a moronic thing to do that serves no purpose other then to annoy people. Like holding up "god hates fags" signs at soldiers funerals.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    2. Re:Umm, I don't get it by raydobbs · · Score: 0

      Maybe its a waste of time to explain this - but the freedom of speech has always been limited by the exception of speech intended to solely cause harm or public backlash (ie - yelling 'Fire' in a crowded theater, calling in bomb threats). The US government is putting the case forward that the film was not an attempt to express a controversial viewpoint as much as something meant to inflame and incense a volatile situation - made stronger by the fact that the producer hid the true content of the film from the cast and crew until it was released; by then, it was too late to revoke their appearances or exercise their legal rights.

    3. Re:Umm, I don't get it by gnomff · · Score: 2

      Because many people outside the US don't have the concept of free speech as deeply ingrained in their culture as we do. They think the US government is at worst in league with the video's creator and at best complicit by allowing the video to remain uncensored. The fact that he is going to jail can maybe shake some of the idea that they are complicit.

    4. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Apparently, God must hate us ;-)

    5. Re:Umm, I don't get it by GodfatherofSoul · · Score: 1

      Think internationally. The zealots in the Muslim world who are fueling the anti-US outrage over this movie are screaming for this guy to be charged and imprisoned for slighting their faith. Now that he's in jail, they're not going to be concerned with the details. They're only going to see the headlines in much the same way that they don't know the nuances of US freedom of speech. The people who were perceptive enough to understand that what he did isn't a crime in the US were never protesting anyway.

      Win-criminal in jail; satisfying zealots without resorting to violating the Constitution
      Win-international incident wrapped up without concessions

      --
      I swear to God...I swear to God! That is NOT how you treat your human!
    6. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's win-win because to Americans he can imply it was for parole violation, and to Muslims he can imply it was for blasphemy. You have to look at it from politician-logic, it doesn't have to be consistent.

      It is clear America loses when we don't have a president who defends free speech.

    7. Re:Umm, I don't get it by PeanutButterBreath · · Score: 1

      The situation is a win-win for the Obama administration, who can now appear to be punishing the man whose film sparked protests and riots around the world.

      This is outrageously ridiculous. Why would it be a "win-win" for the Obama administration to appear to be punishing someone for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech?

      Because the people who want this guy punished don't give a fig about the reasons, or pretext as the case may be (though it isn't). They have enough distance to see through the self-righteous bleating about "freedom of speech" from Americans. Many of the live in countries where making a video critical of America may put you in the crosshairs of a American drone, possibly being actively controlled from American soil.

      At the same time, this guy has availed himself to punishment for something other than is speech at a very convenient time for the current Administration.

      Win (he is jail) Win (legitimately).

    8. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That isn't true. Westboro being a great example.

    9. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Revotron · · Score: 5, Informative

      freedom of speech has always been limited by the exception of speech intended to solely cause harm or public backlash

      No, as long as the movie did not call for immediate lawless or violent action, it does not satisfy the definition of "Incitement" under the First Amendment. Therefore, it is still protected speech. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_free_speech_exceptions#Incitement

    10. Re:Umm, I don't get it by geoffrobinson · · Score: 1

      There is a difference between yelling "fire" and dealing with a group who can't control their outrage.

      --
      Except for ending slavery, the Nazis, communism, & securing American independence, war has never solved anything.
    11. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Revotron · · Score: 1

      P.S. Yelling "FIRE" in a crowded theater is moreso covered under "False Statement of Fact" than anything else, so your comparison is invalid.

    12. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a waste of time to explain that because you're wrong. You're talking about Imminent Lawless Action, and as long as there is a reasonable amount of time between advocating lawless action and its implementation, it's fully legal.

      Furthermore you need to think before repeating this kind of thing. If threat of riots were all it took to limit free speech, then anti-gay protestors would only need to riot any time gays are mentioned positively in the media to stop all positive speech about gayness. You are advocating a position that would allow minorities to hijack the political process, and it's incredibly dangerous.

    13. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Straif · · Score: 1

      The limits to free speech involved with yelling fire is only related to immediate danger caused by your actions and nothing to do with who may or may not be inflamed by speech to later wreak havoc cause harm. The time separation of speech to reaction is very important and in this case is squarely on the side of the film maker (though from the preview calling this a film is being very generous). This has already been decided in the Supreme count on several occasions.

      People can say whatever idiotic thing they want no matter who it might upset but if they aren't actively leading an angry mob to take up an illegal action then there is little the government can do about it.

      --
      Of course that's just my opinion...... you could be wrong!
    14. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Kenja · · Score: 1

      Yea, but dont feel bad. He also hates shrimp, linnen boxer shorts and a bunch of other stuff.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    15. Re:Umm, I don't get it by 0xdeadbeef · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The US government is putting the case forward that the film was not an attempt to express a controversial viewpoint as much as something meant to inflame and incense a volatile situation

      No it isn't, you fucking retard.

    16. Re:Umm, I don't get it by tomhath · · Score: 1

      Americans don't care if the guy violated parole. Muslim extremists in other countries want the guy beheaded. Suggesting this is good for Obama in any way is just wishful thinking in an election year.

    17. Re:Umm, I don't get it by wiredog · · Score: 2

      An analogy:

      It's not a crime for a man to visit a public playground, but if the man in question is a parolee with a conviction for child molestation and a court order requiring him to stay 1000 feet away from playgrounds...

    18. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Obama likes to appease Muslims at the expense of free speech.

      http://articles.nydailynews.com/2010-09-09/news/27074909_1_korans-president-obama-first-amendment

      To be clear, I think what this pastor was going to do was completely stupid. However, I will defend his right to do it peaceably. Unfortunately our own president doesn't count this as an American value (read the article).

    19. Re:Umm, I don't get it by twotacocombo · · Score: 2

      Yes you should have the right to own a gun. No you should not own a loaded AK-47 if you live in an apartment building in a city. .

      And why's that, exactly?

    20. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If this was a debate, you just lost for name-calling.

    21. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Kenja · · Score: 1

      And why's that, exactly?

      Because of physics.

      --

      "Have you ever thought about just turning off the TV, sitting down with your kids, and hitting them?"
    22. Re:Umm, I don't get it by tnk1 · · Score: 1

      The situation is a win-win for the Obama administration, who can now appear to be punishing the man whose film sparked protests and riots around the world.

      This is outrageously ridiculous. Why would it be a "win-win" for the Obama administration to appear to be punishing someone for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech?

      Because Obama didn't arrest him or have him arrested, he was placed in custody for probation violations. And anyone who actually matters to Obama knows that Obama did not actually have anything to do with silencing him. He just watched from the sidelines and probably smiled a bit. There may have been a high-five on the staff.

      He's silenced, but he effectively silenced himself. And the only one who *might* get accused of silencing someone is the probation department. However, they're pretty well covered by the rules. It's hard to argue uneven enforcement when people are arguing that they *don't* want the rules enforced.

    23. Re:Umm, I don't get it by quantaman · · Score: 1

      The situation is a win-win for the Obama administration, who can now appear to be punishing the man whose film sparked protests and riots around the world.

      This is outrageously ridiculous. Why would it be a "win-win" for the Obama administration to appear to be punishing someone for exercising his First Amendment right to free speech?

      It's a win with appeasing the Muslim Arab protesters since the filmmaker is under arrest.

      And it's a win for the free speech advocates since the guy clearly and publicly violated the terms of his parole, so there's no longer a real risk of an actual first amendment violation.

      Note that it was actually actions around the film, using aliases and violating the restrictions of what he could do on the Internet, that got him into trouble, but not the actual film itself.

      --
      I stole this Sig
    24. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Khyber · · Score: 1, Informative

      It is still incitement. The INTENT is what matters, not the speech itself.

      And this film was clearly made to incite people to do violence, knowing the target demographic of the film itself.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    25. Re:Umm, I don't get it by aicrules · · Score: 1

      No, it wasn't clearly made to do anything. And the people who actually KNOW what caused the violence versus the protests actually know the video was just a planted red herring. Which should be obvious from how quickly it supposedly was exposed as the cause...as in so early that they were reporting it as the cause before they even knew officially that the ambassador had been killed.

    26. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Because In an apartment complex if that AK goes off it will take plenty of walls to stop that bullet. A proper home defense weapon would be a .45ACP or shotgun loaded with shorties. You stand a good chance of hitting something that wasnt your intended target with an assult rifle round.

      Likewise, high velocity pistols are a bad idea for the same reason; IE the .357mag.

    27. Re:Umm, I don't get it by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      And why's that, exactly?

      Because of physics.

      What do physics have to do with owning a loaded AK-47?

      I think the statement you're wanting to make here is, "No, you should not discharge a loaded AK-47 in your city apartment."

      FTR, I have no less than 3 loaded guns at my home at all times, but only one (a shotgun) is kept in a home-defense-convenient location. The rest stay locked up.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    28. Re:Umm, I don't get it by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      FTR, I have no less than 3 loaded guns at my home at all times, but only one (a shotgun) is kept in a home-defense-convenient location. The rest stay locked up.

      OK, 4 if you include my sidearm, but it's only at the house when I am.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    29. Re:Umm, I don't get it by amicusNYCL · · Score: 1

      It is still incitement. The INTENT is what matters, not the speech itself.

      And this film was clearly made to incite people to do violence, knowing the target demographic of the film itself.

      Guess how I know you're not a lawyer? The film was not intended to incite anyone to violence. It was intended to insult people. It's not his fault that the result of that perceived insult was an angry mob. They didn't have to react that way. Inciting people to violence means that you are actively encouraging or suggesting that people go out and do violent things. That's not what he did, what he did was insult a group of people who have a segment in their population that are prone to knee-jerk violent reactions.

      If you disagree with that, then explain why American Muslims have not become violent over this video.

      What I'm more interested in is the line between free speech and hate speech. He obviously didn't incite anyone to violence, but this may be considered hate speech.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    30. Re:Umm, I don't get it by SecurityTheatre · · Score: 1

      I'm going to disagree here, with a full understanding of the exceptions to free speech.

      The exceptions are intended to prevent that speech that has DIRECT consequences. Simply teasing someone does not equate to inciting them. Simply criticizing something, no matter how harshly it is said, does not incite anything.

      This is vastly different than say, intentionally causing a stampede in a theatre or calling in a bomb threat.

      It is point of fact that the movie was released many months before, and was only released in English, where it caused no inflammation in the Arab world. The only issue came AFTER a third party translated the film into Arabic and posted THAT copy on Youtube.

      Then, several prominent Imams and several political leaders in both Lybia and Egypt tried to use the film as a focal point of nationalistic fervor, and the result was rioting.

      Frankly, President Morsi in Lybia was intelligent enough to know that what he was saying about the film publicly was going to incite people and he did it anyway. In the 'inciting people to violence" issue, he is far more culpable than the original film's creator. That said, nobody other than the terrorists in Lybia have any legal culpability in the killings. Honestly... And I knew Vile Rat from Eve too, so don't tell me I'm just being a pompous anonymous prick.

    31. Re:Umm, I don't get it by SecurityTheatre · · Score: 1

      No, this is a huge loss for relations with hard-line Muslims.

      It sends the message that they simply need to riot and kill Americans in order to get their way.

      This sends a message to zealots that their reaction was both appropriate AND necessary . That's a VERY bad thing.

    32. Re:Umm, I don't get it by mpoulton · · Score: 4, Insightful

      It is still incitement. The INTENT is what matters, not the speech itself.

      And this film was clearly made to incite people to do violence, knowing the target demographic of the film itself.

      You're understanding of 1st Amendment jurisprudence is lacking. Have you even read any of the cases? Where in the world did you come up with the idea that intent has anything to do with it? Intent is specifically NOT adequate. The actual or probable effect must be to incite imminent lawless action. All speech is inherently protected by the 1st Amendment unless it falls into a narrow set of exceptions that exist to prevent very specific kinds of harm. Mass chaos and lawlessness are within the scope of harms that justify limitation of some kinds of speech under some limited circumstances. However, the speech at issue must be directed to cause, and actually be capable of causing "imminent lawless action". Both intent and actual ability to cause an actual dangerous, lawless result are required. And "imminent" means RIGHT THEN AND THERE. Not somewhere else later. Merely intending to incite a riot is legal, and constitutionally protected, unless you have the real ability to make it happen immediately. Merely making a political statement likely to cause your opposition elsewhere to respond violently is also legal, and constitutionally protected, as the resulting lawless action is not "imminent" in the requisite sense. Go read Brandenburg v. Ohio.

      --
      I am a geek attorney, but not your geek attorney unless you've already retained me. This is not legal advice.
    33. Re:Umm, I don't get it by drkim · · Score: 3, Interesting

      ...made stronger by the fact that the producer hid the true content of the film from the cast and crew until it was released; by then, it was too late to revoke their appearances or exercise their legal rights.

      A typical movie release covers stuff like this:

      "I hereby waive all rights and release and discharge Production Company from, and shall neither sue nor bring any proceeding against any such parties for, any claim, demand or cause of action whether now known or unknown, for defamation, invasion of right to privacy, publicity or personality or any similar matter, or based upon or relating to the use and exploitation of the Pictures."

      I understand that...other parties may reveal, information about me that is of a personal, private, embarrassing or unfavorable nature, which information may be factual and/or fictional. I further understand that my appearance, depiction and/or portrayal in the Program may be disparaging, defamatory, embarrassing or of an otherwise unfavorable nature which may expose me to public ridicule, humiliation or condemnation.

      "...the perpetual right to use or to put the finished pictures, negatives, reproductions and copies or the original prints and negatives of him/her and any sound track recordings, and recordings which may be made of him/her voice, including the right to substitute the voice of other persons for his/her voice, his/her name, or likeness, in or in connection with the exhibition, advertising, exploitation, or any other use of such motion picture or recording of his/her voice, to any legitimate use that may deem proper."

      Most include even more stuff about; digitally altering your appearance, using body doubles (so they can make it look like you were naked, or having sex,) etc.

      It's very unlikely they didn't sign one of these, especially if the producer knew he was going to be doing with this footage.

    34. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "He obviously didn't incite anyone to violence, but this may be considered hate speech."

      More like precognition. He filmed actors acting like extremists....and then the extremists began acting like extremists.

      Life imitates art? ...or just a damned funny joke played upon society in general?

    35. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One one hand, it's a "win" because nobody is being arrested for free speech. It is a "win" on the other hand because it can appear to those outside the US that there is some sort of punishment. This is an issue because the US is one of the only places on earth that believes free speech protects intentionally insulting, anti-religious speech.

      The video is clearly an intent to insult, though it is very likely that almost nobody participating in violent protests against it has even seen it. People protested Satanic Verses without having read even the dust jacket summary. This entire situation is being fought on assumption and appearance. They could be arresting him for j-walking or unpayed parking tickets, and it wouldn't matter. It's a win-win because he's not being arrested for a free speech violation, and because those that care about seeing him punished will never bother to find out the real reason behind the arrest.

      We care about making appearances, I assume, because violent protests that consume the lives of ambassadors are not in our best intrests. Ideally, we would educate the muslim world on the merits of free speech, but an analysis of history on such matters clearly results in the objective conclusion that such educational strategies just don't work. The only effective strategy is to be seen performing actions that can be interpreted as caving to the demands of the mob. It's kind of depressing to think of it in that way, but it's the way the world actually works. If educating the world about the merits of our constitution worked, we wouldn't have these problems in the first place.

    36. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The INTENT is what matters, not the speech itself.

      So if I say "Good morning Khyber" you can still have the Feds silence me because my intent was "go play in traffic"?

    37. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      Do you live in a city? In an apartment?

      And I guess I should break down city into "slummy inner city", "high rise style", "suburb" and "technically a city, but really more akin to a town. Not a major metropolitan area that shows up on a map of my country".

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
    38. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_free_speech_exceptions#Fighting_words_and_offensive_speech

      By posting it translated into the language most commonly used by a person of the Islamic faith, it becomes "inherently likely to provoke a violent reaction".

    39. Re:Umm, I don't get it by PRMan · · Score: 1

      So you are 100% certain that no phone calls were made from the DOJ to his parole officer saying, "Get him on something. Anything."?

      --
      Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
    40. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Gee I dunno, because they aren't actually curbing free speech at the same time that they get some foreign policy PR. Just because the muslim world may not fully understand the facts about his arrest does not make this a constitutional violation. If you want to imagine that your free speech rights will soon be trampled because of this that is your deal, but I suggest not living in fear :P Wait for some actual censorship to get outraged over, not some PR.

      Also, you can't change a society's preconceptions overnight. This might be a good segue into rationality. Slowly downplay the feelings of outrage, much like you would a child. For those thinking of a good spanking instead please remember that we are dealing with adults and a spanking will only piss people off and create conflict. Again.

    41. Re:Umm, I don't get it by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      The film was not intended to incite anyone to violence.

      Even if it was, it makes no difference. As you just said, people don't have to riot just because they are being encouraged to do so. I will continue to insist that 'no law' means precisely that and should be taken as it is written. All charges and convictions of 'incitement' should be thrown out... now. They are bogus. The same goes for 'hate' speech.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    42. Re:Umm, I don't get it by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      The 1st Amendment specifically states that you are wrong. Read it some time and try to prove otherwise.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    43. Re:Umm, I don't get it by kaatochacha · · Score: 1

      Because to the domestic audience he can claim he's being arrested not for free speech, but for parole violation. See, no free speech violation here!
      For international Middle east consumption, he can claim just that he's being arrested. See, US no hate Islam!
      Win-win

    44. Re:Umm, I don't get it by mpoulton · · Score: 1

      I can't believe I misused your/you're in the first sentence. I hate that. It was an editing error: I started by writing "You're misinterpreting..." and changed the rest of the sentence without changing the first word. Damn!

      --
      I am a geek attorney, but not your geek attorney unless you've already retained me. This is not legal advice.
    45. Re:Umm, I don't get it by tnk1 · · Score: 1

      I don't even know if that would be completely unwarranted. A guy releases a video that is the catalyst/excuse/casus belli for getting some people killed and starts riots all over the Muslim world, I'd at least want to know who this guy is and what he's up to. And if I happened to find out that he was violating his probation by even posting the video? Why would I be bound to let that one go?

      Sure, if "something" or "anything" meant planted evidence, then yeah, that's not going to fly. If it meant, "this guy has got a mistress, call his wife", that's pretty shady too. But sending him to jail for a manifest probation violation? I'm having a lot of trouble seeing a bad guy here.

      One should always be suspect of power, but if we just assume it is going to be misused without proof, we're going to start seeing injustices where they don't exist.

    46. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Obama has shown he is on the side of muslims. So yes punishing someone for First Amendment right to free speech because it it goes against muslims it is no long right to free speech.

    47. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Kreigaffe · · Score: 1

      People are critical of America all the time. Nobody gives a rat's ass about that.

      It's when you start throwing around "Death to America!" that you suddenly gain unwanted attention. It's when your criticism of America constitutes a demand that viewers take up arms against America that you might hear a buzzing noise in the sky shortly followed by a kaboom.

      --
      ... still waiting for this free-as-in-beer free beer I keep hearing about. :|
    48. Re:Umm, I don't get it by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      Do you live in a city? In an apartment?

      Not sure what that has to do with the physics of loaded weapons at rest...

      Seriously, though, I get what you were trying to say - not that owning the loaded weapon is an issue in this scenario, but rather discharging a high-powered rifle in a crowded multi-family abode that is, essentially, made of friggin' paper, is not a very nice thing to do to your neighbors.

      And I guess I should break down city into "slummy inner city", "high rise style", "suburb" and "technically a city, but really more akin to a town. Not a major metropolitan area that shows up on a map of my country".

      Nah, that's probably too specific. Oh, and for the record, I do not share walls with my neighbors; got enough of dealing with that mess when I was in college.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    49. Re:Umm, I don't get it by SmurfButcher+Bob · · Score: 1

      I'd suggest you may be mistaken. In fact, it would appear that his desire was to incite.

      If the following is correct, he's an Egyptian Christian posing as an Israeli making a M Sucks video. That movie is not an insult. It is a tactic, and this was deliberate.

      READ ME. http://www.social-engineer.org/general-blog/innocence-of-the-media/

      --

      help me i've cloned myself and can't remember which one I am

    50. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not his fault that the result of that perceived insult was an angry mob.

      The film was about how when you insult them they turn into an angry mob, and your excuse is "I had no idea when I insulted them they'd turn into an angry mob!" Really?

      There are better defenses (for instance the fire in a crowded theater thing is long fallen by the wayside, the current standard is more along the lines of a direct call to action ie telling someone "you, yes you, pick up that gun and start shooting people") so even if he did intentionally swat the hornet's nest, it's still unactionable speech unless he told them to start flipping cars and setting shit on fire (setting aside whether the assassination was mob action or a well planned terrorist attack which just remarkably coincidentally happened to coincide with mob action. But face it, "I'm a fucking retarded idiot that needs mommy to wipe my drool from my chin" didn't work for Ken Lay, and it ain't going to work for this guy.

    51. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Qzukk · · Score: 1

      as long as there is a reasonable amount of time between advocating lawless action and its implementation, it's fully legal.

      So as long as I schedule mobs a week in advance, the law's cool with that?

      I suspect that the legal term "imminent" doesn't mean what most human beings think it means. Sort of like how the meaning of "expectation of privacy" and pretty much every other term that gets bandied about has little to do with what you'll find if you look those words up in a dictionary.

      --
      If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
    52. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Because there's no plausible situation in an urban environment in which a fully automatic assault rifle is called for, and plenty of plausible ways it could end in tears for many, many people?

      I'm not saying you don't have a right to, but let's not kid ourselves okay?

    53. Re:Umm, I don't get it by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      What do physics have to do with owning a loaded AK-47?

      I think the statement you're wanting to make here is, "No, you should not discharge a loaded AK-47 in your city apartment."

      No, he's saying you should not have a loaded AK-47 in your city apartment, because the only reason to have it loaded is to discharge it. Or I suppose to test the action, but that's really something you should be doing somewhere safer than in your apartment, because if you should accidentally discharge the weapon you may well kill someone.

      If you don't need to discharge the weapon, you don't need to load it.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    54. Re:Umm, I don't get it by jrumney · · Score: 1

      made stronger by the fact that the producer hid the true content of the film from the cast and crew until it was released

      It was also originally falsely publicised as being created by a Jewish Israeli director, which is further evidence that the intention of the film was incitement, not exercising of free speech.

    55. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Easy: sometimes reality doesn't matter; the perception of reality is far more important. We all see the world through a different lens.

      Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who don't give one shit about freedom of speech; nor do these people see it's value.

      Sometimes, it's better to get a mob to calm down and stop killing their neighbors than pontificate about the benefits of free speech.

      The US/west will still be a convenient scapegoat.

      So it's 'win-win' in that a guy who violated his parole faces consequences, and it may keep a few intolerant jerks from killing each other, or from targeting some soldier who just wants to go home.

    56. Re:Umm, I don't get it by superwiz · · Score: 1

      That's an awful analogy. This administration is often accused of kowtowing to the Muslim world. And then it violates this man's 1st amendment rights in order to throw some red meat to the Muslim world? The overwhelming force used in his arrest (20 police officers for a non-violent suspect) is a clear indication that it was show business more than it was law enforcement.

      --
      Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
    57. Re:Umm, I don't get it by superwiz · · Score: 1

      No, it's not incitement. It's also been proven that the violence was not caused by the film. It was planned before the film was known and coincided with the anniversary of 9-11. So if the premise of the argument is that it was incitement because it incited, then that argument is false because it's based on a false premise. But even if the violence was triggered by the film (which it wasn't), it would not be incitement. Insulting could rise to the level of goading. But goading is not incitement. Basically, in order for it to be enticement, one has to be agreeing with the position taken by the mob. Insulting someone, while it may be irresponsible, is a protected right.

      --
      Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
    58. Re:Umm, I don't get it by multicoregeneral · · Score: 1

      Look. Everyone is entitled to express an opinion. What really gets me about this is that the film clearly depicted Muslims as blood thirsty terrorists that aimlessly kill for no good reason. So how does the Arab world handle this? Rather than get up and speak peacefully, and talk about how this kind of thing is hate speech, which they cannot tolerate... they set American embassies on fire, and further propagate the sentiment that created this video in the first place. I think the Arab world in general needs a good PR person, a publicist (well, one other than CNN). This whole business of burning shit up whenever someone says anything on youtube that they don't like is only making the problem worse.

      --
      This signature intentionally left blank.
    59. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Well argued. I particularly enjoyed the profanity to add extra emphasis to your exceptionally cogent analysis.

    60. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Khyber · · Score: 1

      " Intent is specifically NOT adequate. The actual or probable effect must be to incite imminent lawless action. "

      THAT IS INTENT BY THE VERY DEFINITION.

      I've spent countless hours in courtrooms watching things like this unfold. Every judge has made the same damned decision.

      I think your understanding of law in general is flawed. Call me when you've racked up over 300 hours in a courtroom, with 100 of those spent whipping EA's lawyers in court.

      --
      Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
    61. Re:Umm, I don't get it by Actually,+I+do+RTFA · · Score: 1

      not that owning the loaded weapon is an issue in this scenario, but rather discharging a high-powered rifle in a crowded multi-family abode that is, essentially, made of friggin' paper, is not a very nice thing to do to your neighbors.

      Pretty much. And it kinda constrains what loaded weapons you can have. I mean, collecting is one thing, but loading means it is ready for use. If you have a loaded belt-fed .50 on a farm, eh. In a high-rise, it's tantamount to saying to your neighbors "just so you know, you could die at any moment if I pull this trigger for good or bad reasons"

      --
      Your ad here. Ask me how!
  6. Celebrity? by gr8_phk · · Score: 1

    He's not jailed for the film he's known for, so why are we hearing about it? Is he the new Lindsey Lohan? Are we going to follow him through the courts and rehab?

    1. Re:Celebrity? by Antipater · · Score: 2

      Not Lindsey Lohan. He's the new Billy Mays. He's already sold us one product. Next, he'll unveil OrthodOxy-Clean and the Sham-Tao!

      --
      Everything is better with chainsaws.
    2. Re:Celebrity? by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      Not Lindsey Lohan. He's the new Billy Mays.

      Ah, so he's learned the ancient secret of sounding-like-you're-yelling-when-you're-not-really-yelling.

      A dangerous one indeed.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
  7. Hate Speech by unixguy99 · · Score: 0, Troll

    He should be jailed for spreading hate speech, not accessing Internet while being under probation. Free speech is letting others criticize you, so letting stupids like Nakoula insult more than 1.5 billion people has nothing to do with free speech.

    1. Re:Hate Speech by donaggie03 · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Free speech is letting others criticize you,

      That's a very specific, contrived, and useless definition for free speech you have there.

      --
      Three days from now?? Thats tomorrow!! ~Peter Griffin
    2. Re:Hate Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      At what point does it not have to do with free speech? 1 billion? 1 million? 6? maybe 2-3 if they are powerful enough or popular enough? Free speech means you have the right to insult anyone you want. Insult the entire global population if that's what floats your boat.

    3. Re:Hate Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right after hate speech is though crime. The only free speech that needs protecting is offensive speech. Nobody ever has a problem with inoffensive speech.

    4. Re:Hate Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is this sarcastic?

    5. Re:Hate Speech by hammyhew · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Are you suggesting it's possible to have free speech and yet ban hate speech? That's highly offensive to me. You should be arrested!

    6. Re:Hate Speech by unixguy99 · · Score: 0

      I'm focusing on "You" in that sentence. If I respect your free speech, I'll give you the right to criticize me. If you claim you respect free speech, then you insult me and you don't let me even say a criticism of your insulation, then I can call you a hypocrite.
      Don't take it personally, I'm talking about governments and rights of people.

    7. Re:Hate Speech by jonnythan · · Score: 1

      Not really.

      The best way to figure out who has power over you is to figure out who you can't criticize. You have the freedom of speech when the answer to that is "no one."

    8. Re:Hate Speech by saveferrousoxide · · Score: 0

      Barring the farcical delineation between "hate" speech and "regular" speech, this actually isn't protected speech because it is, quite literally, slander and therefore illegal. Think what you will of Mohammad, Prophet, false prophet, anti-christ, whatever, there is no evidence to support the claim that he was a child-molester (among other accusations). Without any evidence, this is, unequivocally, slander (and likely libel too since it was probably written down at some point) and not, in fact, protected by the First Amendment.

    9. Re:Hate Speech by saveferrousoxide · · Score: 1

      a criticism of your insulation

      Seriously! In this day and age, you need at least R-22 if not R-30 in your house. Short of that, you may as well leave the windows open!! Oh wait... that's not what you meant was it... sorry, I'll just see myself out.

    10. Re:Hate Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He should be jailed for spreading hate speech, not accessing Internet while being under probation. Free speech is letting others criticize you, so letting stupids like Nakoula insult more than 1.5 billion people has nothing to do with free speech.

      Right. Because Nakoula criticized Mohommed with EVIL SATIRE, that's "hate speech".

      Some animals are more equal than others.

      Sure you're name ain't Boxer?

    11. Re:Hate Speech by unixguy99 · · Score: 0

      This movie is a dirty satire and has nothing to do with the facts. So, why not refer to "evidence" instead of spreading hatred based on wrong allegations? Referring to evidence can help us to get out of ambiguity. The thing I understood in these serial insulations is the role of ignorance. The pastor who burned Quran, said in an interview that he didn't actually read Quran!

    12. Re:Hate Speech by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 2

      There's no legal concept of "hate speech" in USA, thankfully. There's "fighting words", but that's a different concept.

    13. Re:Hate Speech by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 2

      there is no evidence to support the claim that he was a child-molester (among other accusations).

      It depends on your definition of "child molester". If having sex with a prepubescent child is sufficient, then he definitely qualifies based on authentic Islamic hadith.

      Either way, slander/libel is a civil offense, not criminal, and it requires the offended party to sue.

    14. Re:Hate Speech by mcgrew · · Score: 1

      He should be jailed for spreading hate speech

      There are no laws against "hate speech" in the US. Laws against speech are unconstitutional. Insulting you and your closest billion friends is perfectly legal.

      There are hate crimes, though. If a black man cuts in line front of you and you say "fucking asshole!" and punch him, you'll pay a fine and likely spend a few days in the county jail for battery. But if you say "fucking nigger!" and punch him, that's a hate crime and you'll likely go to prison. But that stupid movie was nothing like that.

      BTW, mods, he wasn't trolling, that seems like a legit opinion to me (even though I disagree vehemently), particularly if he's from Germany or somewhere where that attitude is drummed into kids at an early age.

    15. Re:Hate Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Barring the farcical delineation between "hate" speech and "regular" speech, this actually isn't protected speech because it is, quite literally, slander and therefore illegal. Think what you will of Mohammad, Prophet, false prophet, anti-christ, whatever, there is no evidence to support the claim that he was a child-molester (among other accusations). Without any evidence, this is, unequivocally, slander (and likely libel too since it was probably written down at some point) and not, in fact, protected by the First Amendment.

      Mohammad would fit the definition of "public figure".

      The film is "satire".

      Hence, the film is CLEARLY protected speech.

      PS - As for "no evidence to support the claim that he was a child-molester"? Oh really?

      According to the traditional sources, Aisha was six or seven years old when she was betrothed to Muhammad and nine when the marriage was consummated.

      OK, now you get to try defending that.

      And we get to laugh at your efforts.

    16. Re:Hate Speech by unixguy99 · · Score: 0

      OK, now you get to try defending that. And we get to laugh at your efforts.

      No, as you don't understand logic, we won't try to make you believe she was 20. We'll ban your dirty companies/products on our soil, and for sure those who spread hatred, understand money clearly. Remember The Merchant of Venice.

    17. Re:Hate Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Legal precedent is that you can not defame either by libel or slander, the dead. Also, in the US, the truth is a positive defense and considerable leeway is given to parody and satire used against public figures.

    18. Re:Hate Speech by saveferrousoxide · · Score: 1

      Hm.. good point about the civil vs. criminal. Not to defend it too vehemently, but I will say most accounts would suggest that he married a prepubescent girl, but waited until "Aunt Flow" visited to consummate. While not cool by today's standards, this was kind of how things were done 1400 years ago. Europe included. Marriage was a contract between families and a means of supporting each other. It still is in some undeveloped parts of the world. Again, I can't stress enough that the icky factor is overwhelming in this case, but I still wouldn't quite classify this in the same category as say teachers or other authority figures *CpOrUiGeHsts* who go after their students/underlings.

    19. Re:Hate Speech by mpoulton · · Score: 1

      There's no legal concept of "hate speech" in USA, thankfully. There's "fighting words", but that's a different concept.

      And the "fighting words" doctrine has been severely limited by subsequent jurisprudence. The incident in the seminal case on "fighting words" (cop arrested protester for calling him a "damned racketeer") would clearly constitute a civil rights violation today. The "fighting words" doctrine as an exception to 1st Amendment protection is essentially dead. It lives on, however, as a defense to battery in some jurisdictions. So you can get punched for saying some stuff, but you can't get shut up by the government.

      --
      I am a geek attorney, but not your geek attorney unless you've already retained me. This is not legal advice.
    20. Re:Hate Speech by mpoulton · · Score: 1

      Either way, slander/libel is a civil offense, not criminal, and it requires the offended party to sue.

      Well that would sure shut up the anti-Muslim crowd! Muhammad v. Nakoula.

      --
      I am a geek attorney, but not your geek attorney unless you've already retained me. This is not legal advice.
    21. Re:Hate Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...this actually isn't protected speech because it is, quite literally, slander and therefore illegal.

      you can't slander somebody who is dead

      there is no evidence to support the claim that he was a child-molester

      ...and his 8 YO wife will back that up! !

    22. Re:Hate Speech by Hatta · · Score: 1

      Criminalizing hate speech is an utterly unacceptable violation of our right to free speech. You're a far more dangerous person for suggesting it, than he is for exercising his freedoms. Shame on you, you are worse than Nakoula.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    23. Re:Hate Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I wish people would do some research that goes beyond sound bites and headlines. You do realize that all the things shown in the film are from Muslim histories, right?

      If someone wants to study the issue of child sex, here is a site discussing the issue with a lot of links to the original materials: http://answering-islam.org/Silas/childbrides.htm

    24. Re:Hate Speech by Hatta · · Score: 1

      I will say most accounts would suggest that he married a prepubescent girl, but waited until "Aunt Flow" visited to consummate.

      Until the, the Prophet had to settle for "thighing" her.

      While not cool by today's standards, this was kind of how things were done 1400 years ago

      Just because pedophilia was more acceptable 1400 years ago, doesn't make it not pedophilia. And this is someone people are supposed to look up to as a moral leader.

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
    25. Re:Hate Speech by Straif · · Score: 1

      Call me when Mohammad shows up in a California court to file a complaint for slander/libel against this guy.

      --
      Of course that's just my opinion...... you could be wrong!
    26. Re:Hate Speech by Psyborgue · · Score: 1

      Bukhari :: Book 7 :: Volume 62 :: Hadith 88 :: Narrated 'Ursa: The Prophet wrote the (marriage contract) with 'Aisha while she was six years old and consummated his marriage with her while she was nine years old and she remained with him for nine years (i.e. till his death).

  8. uuuuh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    uuhhh no, it doesn't look like President Obama is "punishing" this guy. The dude violated his probation, this has no connection to the film or unrest in the middle east.

  9. This is not a "win" by FLoWCTRL · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Appeasing the Muslim lunatic fringe is not a "win" for anyone. We should not apologize for free speech, no matter who it offends. If anything, authorities should have gone the other direction and NOT arrested him despite his parole transgressions, in light of the political statement it creates.

    1. Re:This is not a "win" by Nimey · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      STRAWMAN SIGHTED.

      Nobody's apologizing, failfuck. Take it to FreeRepublic.

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
    2. Re:This is not a "win" by SirGarlon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If anything, authorities should have gone the other direction and NOT arrested him despite his parole transgressions, in light of the political statement it creates.

      So to you, the application of justice should be dependent on the political views someone espouses? The law should treat someone differently based on what he's said in public? How did you get from free speech to there?

      --
      [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
    3. Re:This is not a "win" by Antipater · · Score: 1

      Appeasing the Muslim lunatic fringe is not a "win" for anyone. We should not apologize for free speech, no matter who it offends. If anything, authorities should have gone the other direction and NOT arrested him despite his parole transgressions, in light of the political statement it creates.

      And what political statement would that be? "Ridicule a large fraction of the world's population, and we'll let you out of jail free"?

      --
      Everything is better with chainsaws.
    4. Re:This is not a "win" by Penurious+Penguin · · Score: 1

      Nope, not much of a win-win; not until he is beheaded and his corpse paraded through sandy streets and trampled in a death-crazed frenzy. Not until that will anyone be satisfied. 'tis the way.

      --
      Forward! -- Emperor Norton, 2012
    5. Re:This is not a "win" by PeanutButterBreath · · Score: 2

      We should not apologize for free speech, no matter who it offends.

      Unless a foreigner makes a political video that offends the US, in which case we reserve the right to brand him a terrorist and send a drone to assassinate him in his own country.

    6. Re:This is not a "win" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No one has apologized, but the news will run with his arrest, so the rag head extremists will assume it's because of their murdering protests. You, sir, are the failfuck. As such, we can expect them to increase the number of people they kill each time someone in the West doesn't something their ridiculous religious perceives as offensive.

    7. Re:This is not a "win" by squiggleslash · · Score: 1

      That'd set an entertaining precedent.

      "Your honor, my client pleads guilty to murder, bank robbery, and to violating the DMCA by watching a Blu-ray movie on his Ubuntu computer. However, he asks that this picture of Mohammed having sex with a horse be taken into consideration."

      "My goodness, that'll offend Muslims everywhere. What a prime example of controversial speech. Case dismissed!"

      --
      You are not alone. This is not normal. None of this is normal.
    8. Re:This is not a "win" by PraiseBob · · Score: 1

      Keep in mind, this guy has a long history of fraud and criminal activity. He made this video with the goal of inciting riots and getting people killed, and even deceived the people helping him create the film. I'm all for free speech and the idea of blasphemy laws is repugnant to me, but this guy is still a jackass who wanted other people to get hurt and die to prove a point about a group he doesn't like.

    9. Re:This is not a "win" by unixguy99 · · Score: 0

      We should not apologize for free speech

      If you believe in "free speech", let people criticize holocaust industry and don't label, insult and punish the authors. "Free speech wherever its beneficial" is a bad idea.

    10. Re:This is not a "win" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, the political statement he was making is "Muslims are way too sensitive about depictions of Muhammed, and they need to learn that you don't have a right to not-be-offended". He set out to offend them, and crowds of angry Muslims (egged on by local extremist organisers) proved his point.

      Some speech is offensive, but censoring it is not the answer -- censorship is far more harmful than any speech, no matter how offensive, can be.

      Rioting and trashing buildings and killing people is not civilised behavior.

      Rioting and trashing buildings and killing people is not a justifiable response to ANY kind of speech, no matter how offensive it is.

    11. Re:This is not a "win" by Straif · · Score: 1

      For a group of people not apologizing the current administration has spent a lot more time condemning a YouTube video than condemning the actions of the mobs in various countries attacking US interests and killing Americans.

      There's been more condemnation, and for that matter more action taken to bring about resolution, with regards to the consulate attack by the average Libyan in the street than the by US officials at every level who continue to try and connect a terrorist attack to a video nobody saw, even going so far as to bring it up in a speech to the UN.

      --
      Of course that's just my opinion...... you could be wrong!
    12. Re:This is not a "win" by Antipater · · Score: 1

      Suspending the rule of law because you agree with someone is justifiable, civilized behavior, though, if you believe the OP.

      --
      Everything is better with chainsaws.
    13. Re:This is not a "win" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They didn't use the word 'apology', they said, don't worry, we still tolerate your religion. Obama's repeatedly condemned the video, hoping it would appease the aggressors.

    14. Re:This is not a "win" by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 1

      Rule of law is more important than political expediency. If this guy has indeed violated laws (terms of probation etc), then he should be arrested on this basis. It should however be made clear what he is arrested for, and that it's not because of the contents of the video.

    15. Re:This is not a "win" by Vitriol+Angst · · Score: 1

      I don't think his jailing has anything to do with "free speech".
      What this film producer did was clearly fraud, as he ruined the reputations of actors and bilked investors by not letting them know what the film was going to be about. Free Speech isn't protected in the case where someone's INTENT is to cause harm -- and his use of a phony alias and later dubbing over the picture shows his intent before and after the picture was made.

      Having said that, I don't think people in the Middle East were totally inspired to anger by this film -- I think they were already angry due to our REAL bombing, troop presence and use of drones without declaring war.

      --
      >>"ad space available -- low rates!!!"
    16. Re:This is not a "win" by Mitreya · · Score: 1

      So to you, the application of justice should be dependent on the political views someone espouses? The law should treat someone differently based on what he's said in public?

      I don't agree with the GP, but it does bother me that he got noticed because of the video. What do you want to bet that he'd still be free if the video did not attract so much world-wide attention?

      Therefore, one could argue the application of justice (or certainly the resources of justice) is already being applied based on his political views.

    17. Re:This is not a "win" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or an Australian "sets free" some confidential speech from the U.S. diplomatic corps, embarrassing a whole bunch of the cozy friends of U.S. politicians. Speech wants to be free! Assange! Assange! Assange! :)

    18. Re:This is not a "win" by amicusNYCL · · Score: 1

      We should not apologize for free speech, no matter who it offends.

      That's right, which is why I'm glad that not a single official or agency has apologized for free speech.

      --
      "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
    19. Re:This is not a "win" by SirGarlon · · Score: 1

      Therefore, one could argue the application of justice (or certainly the resources of justice) is already being applied based on his political views.

      One could argue that, but it would be hard to produce substantiating evidence. I guess it's OK to make unfounded accusations, and long as they're against the government.

      --
      [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
    20. Re:This is not a "win" by stephanruby · · Score: 1

      Appeasing the Muslim lunatic fringe is not a "win" for anyone.

      But he is part of the Muslim lunatic fringe. Creating a Jewish-Israeli straw man + "100 of his Jewish friends who supposedly gave him 5 million dollars" to receive the blame for the movie seems to have been his main goal. It reminds me of the gay high school girl who purposefully vandalized her own LGBT posters with nazi swastikas and then lied to the police about it.

      Arrest him, or release him, it doesn't matter much now anyway. That being said, if I was one of the ones he still owed $800,000 in restitution money to, I'd be crying bloody murder, and aside from lobbying to try to get him back to prison, I'd be trying to repossess any leftover video equipment/computers he had at his place plus any leftover money from his family sent to him from Egypt.

    21. Re:This is not a "win" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nuke 'em 'til they glow...then shoot 'em in the dark.

    22. Re:This is not a "win" by SirGarlon · · Score: 1

      Having said that, I don't think people in the Middle East were totally inspired to anger by this film -- I think they were already angry...

      Yeah, but the conflict has a long history, and people from the Middle East have done a thing or two that make Americans angry, too ...

      --
      [Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
    23. Re:This is not a "win" by DragonWriter · · Score: 1

      but it does bother me that he got noticed because of the video.

      The video is the illegal act, not because of its content, but because conduct unrelated to the content, that is, him posting online without approval of his probation officer (which is probation terms required him to get before posting online), and his use of a pseudonym in association with it (his probation prohibited him using pseudonyms.)

      So, a probation violator got noticed because of the act by which he violated his probation.

      Why does this bother you?

    24. Re:This is not a "win" by jader3rd · · Score: 1

      Unless a foreigner makes a political video that offends the US, in which case we reserve the right to brand him a terrorist and send a drone to assassinate him in his own country.

      Can you provide an instance of the US branding someone a terrorist because of an offensive video that didn't involve attacking US citizens?

    25. Re:This is not a "win" by Mitreya · · Score: 1

      The video is the illegal act, not because of its content, but because conduct unrelated to the content, that is, him posting online without approval of his probation officer (which is probation terms required him to get before posting online), and his use of a pseudonym in association with it (his probation prohibited him using pseudonyms.)

      So, a probation violator got noticed because of the act by which he violated his probation.

      Why does this bother you?

      Because if he made an equally famous two-cute-cats-singing-synchronously video, he would likely not be noticed at all.

      I am guessing that it's not the famous video that got him noticed, it's the "unpopular" famous video that got him noticed. Someone went to look over his file and actively searched for anything that can be construed as illegal. And nowdays, many things are illegal - if nothing so obvious was available, maybe they could find some "fishing endangered fish without a license" on his record.

    26. Re:This is not a "win" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You sir, are stupid as shit.

      Stop making up retarded lies and get back to reality. Nobody is targeted for making movies in/by e US. That's nonsense idiot talk.

      Get back to reality, pull your head out of your ass, and try to put together a few coherent thoughts. The US might go after killersand people providing material support to terrorist thugs, but we don't go after cartoonist in the Sudan.

      Frickin unbelievable the nut jobs out there and the trash thoughts they have.

    27. Re:This is not a "win" by superwiz · · Score: 1

      No justice SHOULD be blind. But to suggest that this administration has not advocated and practiced selective enforcement openly and brazenly would be laughable.

      --
      Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
  10. it didn't by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    It didn't spark riots around the world. At least the ambassador in Libya was killed in a targeted attack by Al Qaeda. The ambassador was worried about his safety for weeks before his death. We know this because CNN reporters walked into the compound and looked around. Security was NOT good at this place.

    1. Re:it didn't by SecurityTheatre · · Score: 1

      There have been no less than 70 riots based on the content of this film. Here is a list of all of them:

      https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AonYZs4MzlZbdGRkWVp3MmhhREM1ZE13Uk4wWEdoYUE#gid=0

      Quite a number involved violent conflict, often between police and protestors. No less than 25 had to be disbursed with teargas and in at least 5, the violence came close enough to the US Embassy that US soldiers had to help in defending the perimeter of the embassy.

      The president of Egypt (head of the Muslim brotherhood) continues to pursue his strong support of the protests, while at the same time, deploying the police forces to defend the US Embassy. It seems he wants it both ways...

    2. Re:it didn't by SmurfButcher+Bob · · Score: 1

      No, he realizes what's up.

      cut-n-paste from http://www.social-engineer.org/general-blog/innocence-of-the-media/ :

      Adding more fuel to the fire, the creator of the movie, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, an Egyptian born Christian immigrant living in Southern California, originally masqueraded as “Sam Bacile”, a 52-year old Jewish real estate developer from Israel. [3] “Sam Bacile” claimed the movie was made with $5 million in donations by “more than 100 Jewish donors”, as reported by the Associated Press.

      Trailers and excerpts were uploaded to YouTube in July 2012 garnering little attention. In September 2012, Morris Sadek, an Egyptian-American blogger previously exiled from Egypt for calling for attacks on Egypt, translated the YouTube video to Arabic and reuploaded it. Morris Sadek then sent video links to journalists.

      --

      help me i've cloned myself and can't remember which one I am

    3. Re:it didn't by jrumney · · Score: 1

      There have been no less than 70 riots based on the content of this film. Here is a list of all of them:

      Exaggerate much? I see a lot of descriptions of people doing no more than exercising their First Amendment rights in that list.

    4. Re:it didn't by Twisted64 · · Score: 1

      It sparked a protest/minor riot in Sydney, Australia. Almost nothing does that, and the ridiculous slogans the protesters were carrying were actually one of the scariest things I've seen in this country. Melbourne managed to show more tolerance.

      Going offtopic slightly, I can't wait to see a video of Mohammed dancing to "Gangnam Style," as it must be under development somewhere by now.

      --
      Consciousness is a myth. Trust me.
  11. So much for the First Amendment by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'll be so fucking glad when we kick Bush out of office....

    1. Re:So much for the First Amendment by dkleinsc · · Score: 1

      This isn't a First Amendment case. RTFA.

      Also, parolees have only much as much freedom as the parole board says they have. They've already been charged, tried, convicted, and sentenced for some other crime (in this guy's case, bank fraud) that allows the government to legally keep them locked up for the full time of their sentence. The parole board let him out under certain conditions, he violated those conditions, they have every right to lock him up again. Yes, they should have been on it earlier, but that doesn't mean they can't legally do it.

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
  12. Obama is a Muslim by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

    Don't forget that.

    Forget about free speech. You can't hurt a muslims feelings in the USA.

    If Julian Assange had only drawn a cartoon of mohammed with his pants down, he'd have been caught, extradited, and sitting in Guantanamo by now.

    American priorities!

  13. retroactive setup by cathector · · Score: 1

    ho-hum. yet another example of the guvmint's access to time travel technology.
    there's no way this guy had violated his parole in the past until the current hooplah.

    1. Re:retroactive setup by mabhatter654 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      That's how parole works...

      They set up enough hoops and demands that you have to spend all your time keeping up. Mostly, that's to keep you out of trouble.. But it also provides plenty of technicalities when you become a nuisance. There's something you missed for them to violate you over whenever they need it.

    2. Re:retroactive setup by dkleinsc · · Score: 1

      Right. Parole is basically letting you out as a favor - the state has a very low burden of proof to keep you locked up instead, and a very low standard before they can lock you up again.

      --
      I am officially gone from /. Long live http://www.soylentnews.com/
    3. Re:retroactive setup by tangent3 · · Score: 1

      Parole is a privilege, not a right. If your privileges are removed from you, you are not being violated.

  14. Changed his name, too by ackthpt · · Score: 1

    He's now Commodore Burrito or Angleburt Hinkydink or Mohammed Jolly or Fred Flagstone...

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  15. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Clearly, he's a dirtbag

    It is not illegal to be a dirtbag.

    "The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all." -- H. L. Mencken

    Hope they have enough on him to keep him locked up.

    Is he really being locked up for violating his probation, or is that just a justification to arrest someone for saying something inconvenient? Supposedly he as arrested for making false statements to his probation officer. Is that something that a normal person would be jailed for?

  16. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Jeng · · Score: 1

    No.

    He should be locked up for his own safety because you know there are people looking to literally cut his fucking head off and shit down this throat.

    But if he is being locked up for his own safety he should have the option to refuse.

    --
    Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
  17. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    > > Clearly, he's a dirtbag

    > It is not illegal to be a dirtbag.

    Clearly you see the word "illegal" everywhere, even when it hasn't been written.

    The trouble with freedom of speech is that speech isn't just words.

    Otherwise Islam's fatwahs are merely free speech.

    Imams calling for the destruction of Israel and the Great Satan are just free speech.

    And talking dirty to children is just free speech.

    Point is you only support free speech that YOU agree is free speech but use the fact that you agree something is free speech that another disagrees is free speech as "proof" that you agree with free speech more.

    You just have a different range of what you call free.

    At least the Muslims demanding this movie be banned aren't being hypocrites over it.

  18. sigh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    There goes home of the free and the land of the brave...cryst

    1. Re:sigh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There goes home of the free and the land of the brave...cryst

      and the home of the literate, evidently.

  19. Won't stop the crazy rioters by Krojack · · Score: 2, Insightful

    They won't stop. They will demand we hand him over so they can slowly behead him and post that on the internet then drag his body though the streets and hang it from some bridge.

  20. Re:How is it understood as anything but punishment by jonnythan · · Score: 2

    I think that's not at all true. I assume the local police don't give a shit about foreign policy. If that's true, who ordered the arrest? Obama? Why would he do that?

    What's much more likely is that once media reports of him apparently violating probation, the local PD felt pressure from the people and local government to arrest the guy for said parole violations. Nothing more.

  21. And right after taxes is communism. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why does offensive speech deserve to be protected?

    I'll tell you why: because it isn't offending YOU.

    1. Re:And right after taxes is communism. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Umm...Wrong. Speech which is offensive to me definitely deserves to be protected, although I must say I am not easily offended. But should I be easily offended I would still expect the flag burners and Jesus pissers to be protected. Now I will say that I'm not so keen on government support of offensive speech, but that's another story.

      The whole point of free speech is to protect unpopular speech. Popular and inoffensive speech never needs protecting.

  22. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Yes, he really is being jailed for his actual wrongdoings. You are not allowed to use aliases on probation. He used an alias and did something infamous with it.

    Certainly, I imagine people do this all the time and are not caught, usually because it simply does not come to light, particularly since an alias has the effect of making it harder to tie a person to what they do under their alias. In this case, what he did is not the issue, it is that it was infamous enough for him to be caught violating his probation. It would be a very, very dumb Probation Officer who, when faced with his convict's publicly obvious non-compliance, did not enforce the conditions of Probation.

    Remember, he's already a convicted criminal who is only free on probation on the guarantee of good behavior and specific provisions meant to ensure he remains on good behavior. He's not so much being thrown in jail as simply returned to jail.

    Is this incredibly convenient for the Obama Administration? Hell, yes. Is it a matter of silencing him? Not at all.

  23. two faced by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Only two things can be taken away from this event:
    1) killing ambassadors and US citizens by not so crazy Muslim fanatics WORKS and is an effective strategy.
    2) If the Constitution cannot protect this guy, it sure as shit won't protect you either.

    1. Re:two faced by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Excellent points, it's a shame that even they have to be posted as AC.

    2. Re:two faced by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

      Only two things can be taken away from this event: 1) killing ambassadors and US citizens by not so crazy Muslim fanatics WORKS and is an effective strategy. 2) If the Constitution cannot protect this guy, it sure as shit won't protect you either.

      You missed one:

      3) violating the conditions of your parole by using false identification will result in arrest, being considered a flight risk, and subsequent denial of bail.

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    3. Re:two faced by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So making a religious satire should pardon him from his former crimes? What would you need to insult with free speech in order to get away with, say, sexual abuse of children? The Pope? That would be ironic, if so...

  24. Huh? by gstoddart · · Score: 2

    The situation is a win-win for the Obama administration, who can now appear to be punishing the man whose film sparked protests and riots around the world, but at the same time simply enforcing the law, as all evidence indeed suggests Nakoula violated the terms of his probation

    Obama can't be seen as punishing him for exercising free speech.

    Anybody who believes that is going to subsequently demand than anybody who says anything equally inflammatory be equally punished. And if those hypothetical people haven't broken their parole, nothing at all will happen.

    It needs to be clear, this guy is being arrested only because he violated the terms of his parole in terms of using an alias or the internet. But it's essentially unrelated to the film and that has to be made clear.

    There is simply no way the US government can be seen to be suppressing free speech. The last thing Obama wants to do is use this to his advantage. Because the reality is, that he isn't being punished for free speech -- he's being punished because he's a shady guy who violated his parole.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    1. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You have been watching too much MSNBC

    2. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The US government was suppressing free speech in this case. If you don't think so ask your self this question: Would he be in jail if he hadn't made that movie? We know the answer to that is no.

    3. Re:Huh? by gstoddart · · Score: 1

      The US government was suppressing free speech in this case. If you don't think so ask your self this question: Would he be in jail if he hadn't made that movie? We know the answer to that is no.

      No, but the attention around him brought his parole officer's attention back to him and the fact that he was both using an alias and the internet (against the explicit terms of his parole) is the actual violation.

      Are you seriously suggesting they fabricated a parole violation in order to arrest him?

      Or, maybe, just maybe, he is being arrested because he's actually in violation of his parole conditions? From this

      Included in his probation terms were prohibitions on his use of the Internet, unless he secured prior approval from his probation officer. Additionally, he was not to âoeuse, for any purpose or in any manner, any name other than his/her true legal name or names without the prior written approval of the Probation Officer.â

      So, it sounds like he has breached both of those conditions since he apparently told the press about both of those things.

      Does it need to be a conspiracy by the government to suppress his free speech? Or is he maybe actually an idiot with prior history with the law who did something stupid?

      I figure the only you can prove yourself right, mister AC, is to make your own film, and see if they make up charges against you. Otherwise you're mostly talking out of your ass.

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
    4. Re:Huh? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yup, that's why the cops showed up literally in the middle of the night to take him in for questioning. They do that for everyone who violates parole. I was glad they also made sure that they did that while the press was there so they could show how tough on crime they are. I only wish they had used their sticks on him in front of the cameras to really set an example for those other people thinking about violating probation.

      I think we all have to agree that it was a simple coincidence that the President of Egypt demanded we do something and with in 24 hours this guy turns out to have violated his probation. No relationship at all. I'm sure the local law enforcement folks saw this as the number one priority in the greater Los Angeles area because they have so many people on parole that they can't possibly let any case of potential parole violation go longer than a couple of days before dragging the perp in for questioning. That, and the crime rate is pretty low in LA so the officers had plenty of time to spend on this.

  25. How to detect morons in two easy steps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1) Look for use of term "teabagger" or other sexual slang instead of reasoned argument.

    2) That's it!

    P.S. works as well on XBox Live as it does in political stories!

    1. Re:How to detect morons in two easy steps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also people who post simple steps for /anything/ as AC, amirite?

    2. Re:How to detect morons in two easy steps by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh noes, the medieval crowd that likes to use "socialist" as a swear word and insult don't like being insulted themselves! Boo fucking hoo. A rabid crowd of fundies inventing strawmen like the "death panels" spiel against Obamacare have nothing to do with reason.

    3. Re:How to detect morons in two easy steps by drkim · · Score: 1

      Look for use of term "teabagger" or other sexual slang instead of reasoned argument.

      Wait... there's a use of "teabagger" that's NOT sexual slang?

      No wonder that guy in front of the grocery store with the clipboard was so offended by my request...

    4. Re:How to detect morons in two easy steps by xevioso · · Score: 1

      Why would he be offended at you asking him to help bag your tea? Sometimes when I buy a lot of tea I need assistance in bagging it. Seems reasonable enough.

  26. Re:Well now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Kill yourself.

  27. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by erroneus · · Score: 1

    What was it they got Hoffa for? Not for being an organized crime boss...

  28. Nothing held in reserve here by DragonWriter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This is selective prosecution that wouldn't occur but for the outrage. As such it should be thrown out as government doesn't (in theory anyway) get to hold in reserve violations and then arrest when the person gets uppity in perfectly legal ways.

    That would make sense...except that the violations at issue occurred during the investigation of whether or not he posted the video, which itself would have violated the terms of his probation.

    Its not about violations known in advance and held in reserve and then used as retribution for a "perfectly legal" act, "uppity" or otherwise.

    1. Re:Nothing held in reserve here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In a Police Sate, everyone is guilty of something...

      We are living in a Police State, don't kid yourself.

    2. Re:Nothing held in reserve here by readin · · Score: 1

      We have so many laws that if they want to put you in jail they'll find something. Remember the special prosecutor law? When it first came out Justice Scalia said it was unconstitutional because it had an investigator with special powers looking for a crime - any crime - that might have been committed by a selected individual, as opposed to looking into a specific crime.

      It took many years and finally the use of the law against a Democrat for people to finally realize it was a bad law.

      The concern is that this might be a similar situation. Why was this guy even investigated? He wasn't suspected of doing anything illegal and there was no reason to look into his background or to question him. The government didn't like the guy so they decided to look and see if there was something they could arrest him for. That's wrong. And it's not even like the government always arrests people once they become famous and their law-breaking becomes public knowledge. See Obama's illegal alien relatives in America for examples.

      --
      I often don't like the choices people make, but I like the fact that people make choices. That's why I'm a conservative.
    3. Re:Nothing held in reserve here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In the United States a person has the right, not only to speak, but to speak anonymously. With a $100,000 price on the author's head, this is a perfect example of why anonymous speech is protected. Why was the government trying to figure out who posted this perfectly legal video?

  29. Making a movie does not cause harm by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    the freedom of speech has always been limited by the exception of speech intended to solely cause harm or public backlash

    You mean like Piss Christ?

    Oh wait. That seems to be fine. Even though the intent plainly was to generate backlash.

    It looks like you have decided it only matters when people who would riot anyway use a movie as a pretext.

    This movie was obviously not designed to "cause harm". It was just a bad, bad movie.

    I could claim that watching Mortal Kombat: The movie drove me into a howling rage and it would be just as stupid. People need to take responsibility for reactions to media they never even had to watch, which is QUITE unlike the case of yelling fire in a crowded theater which no-one can avoid hearing or being part of the reaction to.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  30. YAAAAA! for Freedom of speedh! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ohhhh wait. My bad.

  31. We should stop appeasing Muslim rage by Nova+Express · · Score: 0

    Instead of looking civilized, we look weak, as athiest commentator Pat Condell makes clear:

    "There was a time when Islam was given the benefit the doubt by many people in the west. Now we think it’s poison and we wish we’d never heard of it, because 20 years of baseless grievance mongering and knee-jerk offense have shown us this religion for what it really is. Now we don’t like it, we don’t trust it, and we are never going to respect it. And we don’t care how Muslims feel about that."

    --
    Lawrence Person (lawrencepersonh@gmailh.com (remove all "h"s to mail)

    http://www.lawrenceperson.com/

  32. It appears legitimate: by Artifakt · · Score: 1

    Aside from the people who feel this is a free speech issue where Nakoula was really arrested for making the film, no matter what else he did, there are at least two perfectly ligitimate reasons why he can be charged with probation violations:

    1. He's been using aliases to do this - that's usually specifically prohibited by the terms of probation. The normal right to use an alias for non-fraudulent purposes does not usually apply while a person is on probation, so if he's got typical restrictions, the state does not have to prove he had some sort of fraudulent intent. They can void his probation automatically, although that doesn't stop them from also bringing charges if they are willing to try and prove the alias did entail fraudulent intent.

    2. Reckless endangerment - His actors were placed in danger, and they are much more identifiable than he is as a producer, so their danger is actually greater than his (That may have changed due to all the publicity, but at the time of his actions, it was undeniably true, and that's the timeframe a court would have to consider). If he took steps to protect himself, but did not warn the actors of what sort of risks they were about to take on his behalf, that proves he had knowledge to elevate his actions to a felony level. So even if he trys to claim that his use of aliases was for the legitimate reason of protecting himself from Muslem retaliation, he demonstrates depraved indifference to the consequences of his actions with regard to his innocent employees. He really can't offer evidence to even mitigate the severity of sentencing on the one charge without simultaniously giving the state evidence to use on the other charge. His probation officer does not have to wait until the state decides to charge Nakoula criminally to act, either - he can bring the man in and ask just about any questions he chooses and all those answers become testemony admissible later if there is a court case filed. He can void the man's probation for conduct that doesn't rise to the level of new charges as well.

    --
    Who is John Cabal?
  33. Lose: Everyone by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    The next time you are jailed to appease people in a foreign country I guess I'll not say boo about the matter.

    And if you think this "wraps up" the international incident then you are a fool; they are still protesting and want him dead, not arrested.

    Kind of funny how when you start to try and appease people they keep wanting more.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  34. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by xevioso · · Score: 4, Informative

    He's locked up because he violated the terms of his probation. He apparently has a pathological tendency to refuse to give his real name to authorities or anyone else for that matter, and the Judge had enough of it.

  35. Re:How is it understood as anything but punishment by rahvin112 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    At the court hearing about his parole violation he told the Judge that the original name he used during his criminal prosecution and incarceration wasn't his real name.

    Think about that for a minute, he's jailed for fraud and ordered as a condition of probation not to use aliases, only his legal name and he tells the judge evaluating his compliance that the name he used in the previous trial was a fake. It's highly unusual in situations like this for a judge to incarcerate a parolee before the hearing, she threw him in jail because she said the court has no confidence he's not a liar and flight risk.

    And might I add, just because you haven't bothered to follow the case that it makes your assertion that no one believes this isn't political asinine. Obama and the state department has almost zero influence over department of federal paroles (it's mostly courts administered). His parole conditions were public nearly a day after the whole thing went public, including links to all the PDFs on popehat.

  36. Re:Well now by alcourt · · Score: 2

    Yes, because a check fraud conviction with a judicially applied condition of not using the Internet except under approval of the court appointed authority is such an uncommon offense against free speech that I've seen and heard it described as "a routine condition". When one is convicted of a crime, one loses certain rights. That's completely consistent with the 14th amendment, deprivation of liberty with due process.

    --
    "I may disagree with what you say, but I will defend unto the death your right to say it." -- Voltaire
  37. Re:How is it understood as anything but punishment by sunking2 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    He was convicted for bank fraud. And then he goes and writes checks to pay for employees using an alias, and his probation conditions make it perfectly clear that the use of any sort of alias violates probation. The guy really stepped in it. This isn't some case of over sleeping and missing a check up with his probation officer.

  38. So the rioting worked. by Sydin · · Score: 2

    That pretty much assured we'll be seeing more batshit insane rioting in the future. From the Muslim World's perspective, the following events occured: 1) Guy releases a movie insulting Islam 2) The Middle East explodes into violent rioting, killing hundreds of people 3) We arrest the guy to quell them. So in other words, riot more! The more Americans you kill, embassy you torch and flags you rip up, the more the US will bow to your whim! Positive reinforcement for everybody! I fucking hate this country.

    1. Re:So the rioting worked. by shutdown+-p+now · · Score: 2

      Would you prefer them to ignore the law that requires him to be arrested just so that US doesn't "look weak"?

      The only sane way to deal with this is to ignore those crazy mobs altogether. Do what's right according to your own laws; not what they demand you to do - nor, for that matter, the exact opposite of what they demand just to spite them.

    2. Re:So the rioting worked. by superwiz · · Score: 1

      Would you prefer them to ignore the law that requires him to be arrested just so that US doesn't "look weak"?

      Why not? This administration ignores plenty of other laws openly and brazenly. It ignores immigration laws. Supposedly this is done to support compelling state interests. Well, showing support for free speech is a compelling state interest. Why not ignore the law for reason? Unless, of course, they don't think that the right to offend Muslims is as important as the right to live in the country illegally.

      --
      Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
  39. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by mooingyak · · Score: 3, Funny

    Clearly you see the word "illegal" everywhere, even when it hasn't been written.

    It's not illegal to see the word illegal everywhere.

    --
    William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
  40. Don't call Obama a nobody. He doesn't like that. by SuperKendall · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Nobody's apologizing, failfuck

    I guess you didn't get the memo the U.S. is doing just that, and paying $70k of your money to do so.

    What was that you called people that got things wrong again? Seems like it rather more applies to yourself.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  41. Re:Selective Prosecution by rahvin112 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Not arrested for parole violations? He had two parole conditions and he violated both!! In fact he told the judge yesterday that the name he used during his original trial and incarceration was a fake. This is on the order a sex crime parolee with a condition not to have unsupervised contact with children running a bloody day care. They absolutely put people in jail all the time for violating parole. It's so common it's a daily occurrence for nearly every single parole officer.

  42. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by mooingyak · · Score: 5, Funny

    Last I heard, they still haven't got Hoffa.

    --
    William of Ockham had no beard. The most likely explanation is that it was chewed off by squirrels every morning.
  43. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by SomePgmr · · Score: 3, Informative

    He's a scumbag con man that violated the terms of his probation. I think we can come to an agreement on the word, "illegal" here.

    As for the rest of your rant, start reading:
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_of_speech_in_the_United_States#Categorical_exclusions

  44. NWO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope their master plan includes banning all religions.

    1. Re:NWO by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The U.S. should have let the dirty atheist russkies win the Cold War. Instead of, you know, flying in weapons to Muslim terrorists - sorry, "freedom fighters" - in Afghanistan...

  45. appease jihadists by frovingslosh · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Absolutely correct. California could be better using their time and effort protecting us from Linsey Lohan and others like her, but they release them after 45 minutes because the jails are too full. But this guy said something (supposedly) unpopular, so the system is going after him with everything they can come up with. This is clearly an effort to appease a supposedly religious group by further eroding basic American freedoms.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    1. Re:appease jihadists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a strange set of parole terms.

      Anonymous speech is protected speech. Prisoners lose lots of freedoms, but do even they lose free speech rights? I suppose that they could somewhat legitimately get him for business dealings with an anonymous name.

      But anyway, I agree with you. Bad day for the 1st amendment. It will be interesting to see if people take to protesting the arrest with more "blasphemy".

    2. Re:appease jihadists by avandesande · · Score: 1

      I think that's baloney. If you are on probation and get into the press in a big way don't be surprised if your probation officer goes through your activities with a fine tooth comb.

      --
      love is just extroverted narcissism
    3. Re:appease jihadists by Stan92057 · · Score: 1

      I got to say he got what he asked for. He wanted attention and he got it. Too bad he was breaking the law as he drew attention to himself. Being a convicted criminal and all.

      --
      Jack of all trades,master of none
    4. Re:appease jihadists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Violating parole is a basic American freedom?

    5. Re:appease jihadists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He violated his parole, you fucking dipshit.

    6. Re:appease jihadists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "eroding American freedoms".

      Somehow, that triggered these images in my head: google images search.

    7. Re:appease jihadists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Should ignore parole violation because he's well known? Fuck you.

    8. Re:appease jihadists by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is clearly an effort to appease a supposedly religious group by further eroding basic American freedoms.

      This is clearly an effort to appease a supposedly religious group by further eroding what they make us believe are basic American freedoms.

      There...fixed it up for you

  46. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by mabhatter654 · · Score: 1

    I wouldn't say he's a dirtbag... Any worse than others in the "movie industry".

    He was already in prison for bank fraud... And he ran the movie production under a false name? Really? Who's money was he messing with this time?

    Sounds like a typical OOD Slashdotter! Somebody who's gonna contest and push every little thing cause they feel persecuted. There's a LOT of those people in jail for "pushing the Man around" when they could be free.

  47. Re:How is it understood as anything but punishment by tnk1 · · Score: 1

    It was clear he violated his probation from the beginning.

    The beginning of what? What were the terms of his probation? If it's so "clear" why are the terms of his violation sealed from public view?'

    Uh, the violation was made pretty public. You are not allowed to maintain aliases on probation. "Sam Bacile" not only released a video, but he hired actors and produced a video under that name. That's not allowed. In fact, that's not even a good idea when you aren't already a convict. In this case, though, he is a convict and had to follow probation rules to remain free.

    One could argue that if you did *not* punish him, then the probation officer could be accused (rightly) of not doing his job. Since his job is to enforce the rules, and the evidence of the wrongdoing is absolutely manifest to all who are looking, he would be remiss in his duties if he left him free. Indeed, some people are wondering why he was allowed to remain free this long, although you could argue that some investigation was needed.

  48. And really, what was the "lie" by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    Ok, I can see lying to probation officials...

    I can't without knowing what the "lie" was:

    Police: "Sir, we're with the police. We want to ask you some questions. Are you awake?"

    PB*: "Um, er, I guess so..."

    Police: "LIE! You are plainly half asleep. Arrest this man".

    PB = Poor Bastard

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:And really, what was the "lie" by xevioso · · Score: 1

      The lie was giving a false name to a judge. He said that the name he used in his 2010 trial was a false name, and his real name was something else.
      The judge, putting 2 and 2 together, realized this guy was lying then, or was lying now. So she jailed him.

    2. Re:And really, what was the "lie" by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

      My guess is he was asked something along the lines of :

      Have you violated your parole lately? Say by using an alias?

    3. Re:And really, what was the "lie" by SecurityTheatre · · Score: 1

      Actually, I think it was living (while on probation) under a series of fake names and identities....

  49. Not Sure I Agree it's "Free Speech" by CanHasDIY · · Score: 1

    I mean, saying something that could be construed as inflammatory and standing behind it is one thing, but saying it then hiding behind the bodies of others to try and avoid the consequences of your expression? I don't think I can rightfully support such an action. "Freedom of Expression" is more than a right, it's a duty, and I for one think this particular chucklehead failed in his duty to stand behind what he said, so I don't think his "speech" really falls under the category of protected. This asshat wouldn't last 2 seconds in Heinlein's "polite society," and for damn good reason - he's a worthless fucking coward.

    For contrast, I offer the case of Terry Jones, the asshole pastor who made a big show of burning Korans. Same concept (intentionally pissing off Muslims), but since Rev. Jones actually had the cajones to stand behind his admittedly dickish actions, it's a completely different scenario.

    If there truly is power in words (and, subsequently, media), then it's fair to say that with great power comes great responsibility. Maybe it's just me, but if you're too much of a chickenshit to stand up and own the fucked up shit you say to/about others, I think you would be wise to just keep your trap shut.


    Also noteworthy - I would expect anyone who violates his parole and evades capture by using multiple false identities to be held without bail as well, regardless of their other, non-parole related actions.

    --
    An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    1. Re:Not Sure I Agree it's "Free Speech" by jader3rd · · Score: 1

      Freedom of Speech is a right. Trying to curb it in anyway by trying to not hurt peoples feelings is morally wrong. I think the US has it right by having close physical proximity be the test for if incitement has crossed the line of peoples rights to assembly peacefully. As long as there's no close physical proximity (ie, posting something online), people must be free to express themselves in whatever way they want.

      Muslims could not be offended by not watching the videos of people trying to piss them off.

  50. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by xclr8r · · Score: 3, Insightful

    He's locked up because he violated the terms of his probation. He apparently has a pathological tendency to refuse to give his real name to authorities or anyone else for that matter, and the Judge had enough of it.

    If you had people who wanted to kill you and had the means to falsify badges/I.D./uniforms you would be giving out false names too. I concede that his own actions caused his current predicament and I don't condone anything he has put out but I can understand his motivations for lying about his name..

    --
    Beware of those who profit off the docile and persecute the unbelievers.
  51. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Vermonter · · Score: 2, Informative

    LA has a large number of Muslim inmates. I would hardly consider him safe in jail there.

  52. Re:Selective Prosecution by fermion · · Score: 1
    He was arrested because he embarrassed the religion that he associated himself with. Why else would a law be passed to prevent the free right expression of the Westboro Baptist church? They have a right to do what ever they want on public land, yet political people who presumably go to church and believe that church people should have the right to express themselves say this is not a proper expression of the religion. Same things go for christian terrorists assaulting innocent people with words, graphic pornographic images, and threats. Again, christian politicians have created buffer zones that limit such otherwise constitutionally protected activity.

    So if this political, it is the politics of the evangelical christian, not the politics of the state. The state has rules that defines and describes civilized activity. If is the uncivilized activity of the religious terrorist that requires us to revisit and reinforce the rules.

    --
    "She's a scientist and a lesbian. She's not going to let it slide." Orphan Black
  53. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 0

    Yes... Based on all of the evidence, this guy was a scumbag that was just another screwup away from jail, and he chose to violate his parole in a fairly spectacular manner.

    I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out the film was financed illicitly too.

    --
    retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
  54. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You are confusing Hoffa with Al Capone, who was jailed for tax evasion.

  55. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by amiga3D · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I thought it was for the criminally bad acting and scripting of the movie. If you jail people for lying then we have to put all of Congress in jail.

  56. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by SomePgmr · · Score: 2

    You might be thinking of Capone, convicted on tax evasion.

  57. 3 Felonies a Day - Plenty to Choose From by glennrrr · · Score: 1

    To the extent it's true that ordinary citizens commit felonies without intent daily, the fact that this guy had something to pin on him is not remarkable. Any of us could be arrested nominally for violating some law when the underlying motivation is to suppress speech the government doesn't like.

  58. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by amiga3D · · Score: 5, Funny

    Shouldn't be a problem. Islam is a religion of peace.

  59. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by beschra · · Score: 1
    --
    It is unwise to ascribe motive
  60. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by DutchUncle · · Score: 0

    Mod parent up.

  61. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    there are people looking to literally cut his fucking head off

    Some men have had their fucking head cut of and sewn back on again without losing the ability to fuck. Having your regular head cut off is much worse. You are not guaranteed to survive, even if it is sewn on again immediately.

  62. Re:Win-win for Obama... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    +1 Insightful -or- +1 Funny (take your pick)

  63. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Andy+Dodd · · Score: 1

    Are you talking about Al Capone?

    They couldn't nail Capone for any of his more high-profile crimes - in the end, the one government agency he couldn't escape unscathed was the IRS. Capone got nailed for tax evasion.

    --
    retrorocket.o not found, launch anyway?
  64. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by drkim · · Score: 4, Informative

    I can understand his motivations for lying about his name.

    He had used fake names as part of his original scamming, and one condition of his probation was NOT to use false names.

  65. Re:How is it understood as anything but punishment by xevioso · · Score: 1

    -----It was clear he violated his probation from the beginning.
    ---The beginning of what? What were the terms of his probation? If it's so "clear" why are the terms of his violation sealed from public view?'

    From the La Times:
    "Nakoula, who was on supervised release from a 2010 conviction for bank fraud, faces eight charges of probation violation, including making false statements to authorities about the film.

    When probation officials questioned him about the video, Nakoula allegedly claimed his role was limited to writing the script, and denied ever using the name “Sam Bacile” in connection to the film, Dugdale said.

    Dugdale said there is evidence Nakoula’s role in making “Innocence of Muslims” was “much more expansive” than penning the script. Prosecutors said Nakoula could face new criminal charges for lying to federal officials."

    ------It's very important for Muslims across the world to understand that he was NOT arrested and jailed for the CONTENT of that movie

    ----You know who believes that statement? Approximately no-one. Are you SERIOUSLY claiming that had the protestors not claimed that movie was provoking them that he would be in jail, or even in trouble? Lots of other terrible movies are made every day and the producers run free to make more.

    I believe that statement because it is true. Don't believe me? There is absolutely nothing in the Prosecutors statements about why he was arrested that had anything to do with the CONTENT of that movie. It's because he lied, repeatedly, to officials. This is exactly my point. Some people are so willing to believe conspiracies that they refuse to look at what is so obvious right there before them. Read this article and tell me his arrest had anything to do with the CONTENT of that movie:
    http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/09/nakoula-basseley-nakoula-aliases-innocence-muslims.html

    ----He was jailed EXACTLY because of the content of the movie. He is being punished to try and appease the protestors.
    --You know what other countries are doing by way of thanks? Jailing some guy who ripped up a bible in Egypt. Is this really the road we want to go down?

    Did the guy who ripped up the Bible violate the terms of his parole? Do they even have parole there? If not, it was most likely because of blasphemy laws. The fact that the Egyptian authorities are stupid for enforcing blasphemy laws, while our authorities are not stupid for enforcing parole violations, is none of my concern.

  66. My Take by Murdoch5 · · Score: 0

    I'm going to start off by saying that I'm ignoring the fact he violated probation. I want to take a look at the fact that the Obama administration may be taking a winning feeling from locking a man up for free speech. Everyone has the right to there own belief, it doesn't matter what that is, you can't always act on it but you can least passively believe it. No one, government and police included should be able to take that away from you.

    Fundamentally all that happened here was a man made a movie that represented his belief, he never physically acted on his belief, he didn't tell people on his behalf to act on his belief he just visualized it. No matter the out come, it was not his direct doing. A person shouldn't be responsible for what people do because of there expression, so this man should not be held responsible because some extremest freaked out after his movie was released. I'm not saying you can't disagree or you can't be mad over it but as I already stated you shouldn't have the right to act on your belief in all cases.

    So basically he never did anything wrong. I don't care where you grew up, what culture you belong to or what your beliefs are, I just don't think that he did anything wrong. He expressed himself and because of that expression a number of extremists acted out. How about we arrest the people who acted out instead of the person who was innocent in all cases. This is why the Obama administration shouldn't take a win, they've now basically shown that if you have belief and explain it you go to jail

    Also please pay attention that I'm disregarding the probation violation!

    1. Re:My Take by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So basically he never did anything wrong

      Also please pay attention that I'm disregarding the probation violation!

      Fuck you. You're not entitled to your own facts, and you straight-up admitted that this is exactly what you're doing because it lets you react to some imagined slight.

    2. Re:My Take by ZombieBraintrust · · Score: 1

      What does the Obama administration have to do with his parole officer? Is there video or documents showing Obama has anything to do with this?

    3. Re:My Take by Murdoch5 · · Score: 0

      The post clearly says " The situation is a win-win for the Obama administration, who can now appear to be punishing the man whose film sparked protests and riots around the world", There for giving the impression that the Obama administration is taking a win from it.

    4. Re:My Take by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The post clearly says " The situation is a win-win for the Obama administration, who can now appear to be punishing the man whose film sparked protests and riots around the world", There for giving the impression that the Obama administration is taking a win from it.

      Just because some random article submitter claimed that Obama *could* 'take a win' from it, it doesn't imply Obama will do so.

    5. Re:My Take by dkleinsc · · Score: 1

      I'm going to start off by saying that I'm ignoring the fact he violated probation.

      That's central to the case (and it was parole, not probation, those are significantly different): If he had not been convicted of a crime that he's still technically serving time for, they couldn't do this. As it is, they can because he was let out under specific conditions and violated those conditions.

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    6. Re:My Take by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What does the Obama administration have to do with his parole officer? Is there video or documents showing Obama has anything to do with this?

      Maybe he's Obama's parole officer too

  67. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by TFAFalcon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think he started giving out false names BEFORE people wanted to kill him. Sure NOW he has a good reason to do it, but that was his own choice. He knew that he was prohibited from using aliases for his past crimes, so prison shouldn't come as much of a shock to him (at least until the muslim inmates figure out who he is).

  68. No manslaughter was the result of this movie by SuperKendall · · Score: 5, Insightful

    The only killing we have seen was from a terrorist attack on an embassy, not from a protest.

    How many "protests" also involve quiet ambushes on secret safe-houses?

    --
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  69. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Senior+Frac · · Score: 1

    Use of false identities was a modus operandi in committing his previous crimes. I read somewhere that one of his conditions for parole was that he stop doing it.

  70. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by interkin3tic · · Score: 2

    Clearly, he's a dirtbag

    It is not illegal to be a dirtbag.

    He doesn't need to be a criminal for AC to wish bad things upon him. Always struck me as strange how slashdotters are quick to forget that not everyone is a lawyer talking about laws.

  71. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Zagnar · · Score: 2

    Arr, fine. I'll respond, though I suspect this is a troll. Freedom of speech does not cover shouting fire in a crowded theatre. Freedom of speech does not cover incitement to violence. Calling a specific group of people violent is freedom of speech, just as much as those people can call themselves non violent and the original speaker an idiot. (Note that this is the response generally accepted in polite society and the response that most sensible, educated people had to this video.) Calling for the man who made the offending remark's head to be chopped off is direct incitement to violence, thus, bad for society as a whole.

  72. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by clarkkent09 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This guy is completely 100% irrelevant to anything that's happening in the Middle East. Go to youtube and in one minute you can find a dozen anti-Islam videos made by various random people. When certain extremist groups in the Middle East want to incite violence for their own political purposes, they will find a catalyst easily enough, just like with Mohammed cartoons etc, it doesn't matter what that catalyst is. The biggest issue here for me is that the administration is still talking about the stupid irrelevant film instead of the fact that the Libya attack was obviously a planned and successful Al Qaeda operation to assassinate a US ambassador and that we didn't do enough to prevent it. But that wouldn't look good, would it, so better to focus everybody's attention on a particular US citizen and make him take the blame. Shameful.

    --
    Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
  73. Re:Selective Prosecution by tnk1 · · Score: 1

    So you're arguing that he shouldn't have been held accountable for his probation violation?

    Get back to me when someone actually does get arrested for child porn, as opposed to publicly and flagrantly breaking his probation.

  74. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

    Peace through superior shanks!

  75. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by chemicaldave · · Score: 1

    What makes you think he will be safer in a crowded prison?

  76. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The trouble with freedom of speech is that speech isn't just words. Otherwise Islam's fatwahs are merely free speech.

    Fatwahs are murder contracts, that offer a reward for murder. Soliciting murder is a crime.

    The video may have offended some, but was not a direct request for criminal activity.

  77. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by CanHasDIY · · Score: 4, Insightful

    He's locked up because he violated the terms of his probation. He apparently has a pathological tendency to refuse to give his real name to authorities or anyone else for that matter, and the Judge had enough of it.

    If you had people who wanted to kill you and had the means to falsify badges/I.D./uniforms you would be giving out false names too. I concede that his own actions caused his current predicament and I don't condone anything he has put out but I can understand his motivations for lying about his name..

    I understand his motivations. I also understand that providing false identities to LEOs while on legal probation is a crime in itself, and that if a person commit a crime, they will be punished accordingly.

    This is all much ado about nothing.

    --
    An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
  78. Safer for Him by BBF_BBF · · Score: 1
    He's most probably better off "in jail" because it'll be much more difficult for another crazy person to actually *kill* him and collect the numerous bounties on his head. I don't know why a lot of people are making this a "free speech" issue. He was not arrested for the video, but for lying to his parole officer and is being held since he was considered a flight risk.

    And all those people that say that he should be handled like any other parolee that has lied to his parole officer... all I can say is... This is the REAL WORLD, nothing is ever applied consistently. People who make a big stink and get attention directed towards them tend to get more "special treatment".

  79. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "Islam" more closely translates to "[peace] through submission".

  80. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by ffflala · · Score: 1

    Supposedly he as arrested for making false statements to his probation officer. Is that something that a normal person would be jailed for?

    Not sure. Ask Martha Stewart.

  81. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Obviously he's an asshole, and angry about frequent muslim attacks on Copts, but I'll go a little further and suggest he's 0% to blame for violence in the middle east. "A youtube video made me really, really mad", is not an excuse for murder. And it's not like he's the first person on the internet to trash muhammad.

    It was just the ridiculous excuse du jour for something those savages were eager enough to do anyway. News sources are calling that, "the flash point" or "spark that set off violence". All are elegant ways of saying people wanted to murder other people, but needed a convenient excuse.

  82. Win Win? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ok I can see the win on enforcing the law regarding the probation violation.

    But how does that apply to a win for punishment in regards to the video? No matter what way you look at it, it is attacking free speech and if you try to link the two together, it will become a loss for NoBama.

    1. Re:win win? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks to Your Enlightenment, there is no jihad in Christianity and thank to the Romans who destroyed the Second Temple, torched Jerusalem and scattered the people abroad, there is no jihad in Judaism.

  83. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 1

    I ASSume they'll keep him away from the general population.

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  84. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by fragtag · · Score: 1

    there are people looking to literally cut his fucking head off

    Some men have had their fucking head cut of and sewn back on again without losing the ability to fuck. Having your regular head cut off is much worse. You are not guaranteed to survive, even if it is sewn on again immediately.

    I think you meant "You are guaranteed to not survive, even if it is sewn on again immediately."

    Plus, I'm sure there are several people who would rather lose their regular head than their fucking head.Of course there are also those who cut off their fucking head because they want to.

  85. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by MysteriousPreacher · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I'm a firm believer in freedom of speech, but there is still such a thing as having some taste, and having some common sense. Clearly this guy has, at the very least, poor judgement, and perhaps poor impulse control, and while I'm not going to lay 100% of the blame on him for the violence in the Middle East due to his ill-advised (and poorly produced, from what I hear) video, he certainly is guilty of being the catalyst.

    That's very loaded language. He's not "guilty" of anything - at least in the context of the Islamic hissy-fit business. He is a catalyst, like that teacher who sparked an armed and angry lynch mob in Sudan.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudanese_teddy_bear_blasphemy_case

    Granted, his actions were provocative, while the teacher's were not. While his actions were inadvisable, 100% of the blame lies with the angry nutjobs and the rabble rousers. If we apportion any blame at all to this guy then we may as well issue mitigation points to anyone taking offence. If some guy in the street says that my mother is a scabby whore, should he share the blame if I were to then pull out a knife and cut out his liver? He's a factor in what happened, but what he did is rendered academic by my crazy response. Staying with that example, if I reacted so badly, is it possible that this reaction is based on more than just this single incident? There's way more happening here than just a bunch of cavemen getting worked up over a video.

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    -- Using the preview button since 2005
  86. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by flu1d · · Score: 1

    Supposedly he as arrested for making false statements to his probation officer. Is that something that a normal person would be jailed for?

    Yeah, typically. You also go to jail for violating terms of your probation too. Lying to your probation officer, depending on the lie will typically get you a few nights in jail. Violating your probation terms typically means you go back to jail for a considerable amount of time.

  87. Re:Don't call Obama a nobody. He doesn't like that by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Denouncing is not apologizing. Go spout your teabagger "facts" somewhere else.

  88. Re:How is it understood as anything but punishment by nedlohs · · Score: 1

    It was clear he violated his probation from the beginning.

    The beginning of what? What were the terms of his probation? If it's so "clear" why are the terms of his violation sealed from public view?'

    Since we don't know everything about the case usually we take the magistrate at his word when he says there was a "lengthy pattern of deception" and conclude that it has been going on for a long time.

    He was jailed EXACTLY because of the content of the movie. He is being punished to try and appease the protestors.

    Yes, that's much more likely than previously no one noticing his parole violations because they weren't being put in the spotlight so that even the world's most incompetent parole officer has to notice them.

  89. What happened was a reaction to free speech by frovingslosh · · Score: 1

    Your own post was male bovine excrement. California releases people who are true threats to the public all of the time, claiming that the jails are too full and other nonsense. This guy was clearly targeted because of a silly little film he made, no because of anything that he did, and had been doing for several years before the film trailer was posted.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    1. Re:What happened was a reaction to free speech by xevioso · · Score: 4, Informative

      read the damn article. He was told not to use false aliases.

      During the course of the investigation, the prosecutor said he had duped multiple people with false bank accounts, bad checks, and misrepresenting himself to people with business dealings. Being a "Danger to Society" doesn't have to mean being a violent thug. People who make a living by hoodwinking others at every opportunity are just as bad.

      The authorities DID NOT KNOW he had been violating his parole after 2010; the interest surrounding the movie brought this to their attention.

      So again, I call bullshit.

  90. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by hazah · · Score: 2

    How much is mallice, and how much is stupidity? How much of it changes anything at all?

  91. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by TheRaven64 · · Score: 5, Funny

    If you jail people for lying then we have to put all of Congress in jail.

    You say that, but I'm sure that there are downsides as well.

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  92. Sadly, he can't be arrested for poor production by gestalt_n_pepper · · Score: 1

    or lousy dialog, pathetic special effects or poor scene editing. He'd get the death penalty for sure. Can I issue a fatwah against lousy film makers?

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    1. Re:Sadly, he can't be arrested for poor production by Nidi62 · · Score: 1

      or lousy dialog, pathetic special effects or poor scene editing.

      If they did that then there'd be no porn....

      --
      The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for it to be pitted against a slightly greater evil
  93. Re:Win-win for Obama... by hazah · · Score: 2

    Are you sure it's not because it's both? I mean Romney is a pretty friggin big idiot after all.

  94. Pussy Riot, is that you? by icebike · · Score: 1, Troll

    As has been accepted by everyone except the fawning liberal press, the embasy attack and the rioting in general had been planned for months to coincide with the annaversery of 9/11.

    This is simply putting this guy under a microsocope and finding something, anything, to jail him with. He is a political prisioner. If not alledged parole violation, it would have been spitting on the sidewalk. You can bet this didn't originate with local authorities.

    Meet the new Putin, darker skinned than the old Putin.

    --
    Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
    1. Re:Pussy Riot, is that you? by gfxguy · · Score: 1

      I see some douchebag moderated this a troll when both the Libyan government and most U.S. officials now admit the attack in Libya was planned by "outsiders" for the anniversary of 9/11. If I had mod points, I'd have modded you up just to counter the idiot and biased "troll" mod.

      --
      Stupid sexy Flanders.
    2. Re:Pussy Riot, is that you? by icebike · · Score: 1

      Yes, some people will deny reality if if reflects badly on Obama, even after the truth is known and the administration is backpeddeling:

      http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/spy-chief-defends-obama-administrations-accounts-of-benghazi-attack-cites-shifting-intelligence/2012/09/28/b16cc996-09a3-11e2-afff-d6c7f20a83bf_story.html

      http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/attack-on-us-consulate-in-libya-determined-to-be-terrorism-tied-to-al-qaeda/2012/09/27/8a298f98-08d8-11e2-a10c-fa5a255a9258_story.html

      Slowly the intelligence community is coming around to admit that they were caught completely flat footed, and admitting what the Libyan President Mohammed Magarief said is really the truth.

      http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/26/14105135-libyan-president-to-nbc-anti-islam-film-had-nothing-to-do-with-us-consulate-attack?lite

      In an exclusive interview with NBC News' Ann Curry, President Mohamed Magarief discounted claims that the attack was in response to a movie produced in California and available on YouTube. He noted that the assault happened on Sept. 11 and that the video had been available for months before that.

      "Reaction should have been, if it was genuine, should have been six months earlier. So it was postponed until the 11th of September," he said. "They chose this date, 11th of September to carry a certain message."

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      Sig Battery depleted. Reverting to safe mode.
  95. That video was NOT akin to yelling fire by Lucas123 · · Score: 1

    I've seen far too many comparisons in comment threads with Nakoula's anti-Islamic film to the Supreme Court decision in the Schenck v. United States trial. The majority decision by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes read: "The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre and causing a panic. The question in every case is whether the words used are used in such circumstances and are of such a nature as to create a clear and present danger that they will bring about the substantive evils that Congress has a right to prevent." There is no "clear and present danger" in making a movie depicting Mohammed because there may be extremists in the world who would use it to vent their ever-present hatred of Western freedoms. This slippery slope that would have all free people wary of ever criticising Islam for fear of reprisal and would essentially give extremists the same kind of oppressive power over Western nations as they hold over women in their countries. "Respect our laws or else we'll beat you or kill you." There's an enormous difference between inciting panic in a crowded theater or rioting in an already present and agitated crowd to making a film or exercising your free speech and then having extremist groups use it as an excuse for violence.

  96. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by PickyH3D · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Ah, the apologist logic here is pathetic.

    Clearly you see the word "illegal" everywhere, even when it hasn't been written.

    The trouble with freedom of speech is that speech isn't just words...

    That doesn't change the definition of Free Speech. That just means that if you have threats along with your Free Speech, then it changes the issue entirely. It's the threat that is the issue, and not the speech itself.

    The issue at hand is from a terribly low budget movie's trailer, which is insulting to Muslims. It is not threatening. Calling for the destruction of Israel is threatening, particularly when said Imam is calling upon his followers to make it happen.

    This is no different than the Westboro Baptists that go around protesting at military funerals. They can get away with it it because it's not threatening anybody, and that's why it is the unfortunate side of acceptable Free Speech.

    At least the Muslims demanding this movie be banned aren't being hypocrites over it.

    The issue to them is very cut and dry, but it is far from not being hypocritical. You cannot insult Islam in any way. But the reverse is completely acceptable; they can insult your nation (e.g, Great Satan, which also associates religious aspects to it), or your religion (e.g, Jews), and you had better accept it. And they're going to do it while they destroy your embassy, even if your nation wasn't involved at all (e.g., German Embassy protests).

    But you're right, I guess I don't see any hypocrisy in there. Keep running around with your blinders on.

  97. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

    True, but let's not pretend that once he got the attention that it didn't become somebody's job to dig this up. I'm not defending the asshole, rather the phrase "If you have nothing to hide...."" is echoing through my head right now.

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  98. I've been on probabtion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    First of all, the crime he was originally tried and convicted for was fraud and if I'm not mistaken he had >10 aliases he was using to bilk money. Hence the probationary rule that he not pretend to be anyone else. He did so NUMEROUS times in the filming and posting of this movie.

    Secondly, I've been on probation (for a misdemeanor but still had to report etc.). It's no fun and I can tell you that if my PO had found out I was in violation I probably would have had some repercussions. Probably not jail since my case was so minor but this guy stole millions so I think what's occurring is completely legitimate. He could have created the movie and gotten it posted WITHOUT violating his probation yet he defied them anyway.

  99. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Martha Stewart was under house arrest, and not for lying to a probation officer.

  100. US murders innocent Muslim women & children da by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    crickets .....

  101. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  102. Re:Well now by Sparticus789 · · Score: 0

    So where is the proof that he was in front of the computer and uploaded the video? Was his Probation officer taking a nap since July, when the video was actually uploaded? Just because someone makes a Facebook account with my name on it that has a picture of me doesn't mean that I uploaded it. There is ZERO attributable on the internet.

    This is the government grasping at straws. They have no case, they just want to safe face 1 month before the election.

    Meanwhile, this guy is in jail. While the actual terrorists who assassinated a U.S Ambassador and 3 other State Department officials are still at large. Glad to see our priorities are straight.

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    sudo make me a sandwich
  103. You're confused by frovingslosh · · Score: 2

    I believe that you have confused the excuse for him being arrested for the reason that the government started looking for excuses in the first place. The reason that he is arrested is suppression of free speech. The excuse is the things that you mention, which otherwise would have never been acted on by the government (just like they had been ignored for years prior).

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    1. Re:You're confused by BasilBrush · · Score: 0

      I believe you're a conspiracy nut.

      Occam's razor - a felon who violated his parole was punished for violating his parole. There's no need to add the unnecessary step of the government looking for excuses.

  104. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by r1348 · · Score: 1

    He's a dirtbag whose deliberate actions created way too much trouble for him to walk freely in the streets.
    Anyone who saw that piece of crap of his "movie" can agree that it didn't aim at sparkling a legitimate debate over Islam, but just at throwing fuel on fire on a tense enough situation.
    I wish they keep him locked, whatever the reason.

  105. there is another element by ProfBooty · · Score: 1

    If you go by what the Washingtonpost has been saying, the Obama administration hasn't been quite as forthcoming on the story. It appears that the attack on the consulate was not spontaneous, and that within the administration, there has been charges of it being a "terrorist" incident. Sure, given previous stories where there was a representation of Mohammed the Arab street has expressed outrage, so the entire story seems plausible at the time, but as more info leaks out, it seems less so.

    Most of the media has been giving Obama a pass on the story, nor has Romney latched on either..

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  106. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by realityimpaired · · Score: 2

    It is not illegal to be a dirtbag.

    Actually, in some cases it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fighting_words . See also incitement to riot.

    Even in the US, there's provisions which restrict freedom of speech. The US has, far and above, the most liberal free speech laws in the world, and there's still provision in US law that could make what he did illegal. I haven't seen the film in question, so I can't really give an opinion one way or the other on whether what he did actually was inciteful, but there is provision in US law to make inciteful speech illegal.

    In the rest of the civilized world, there wouldn't be any question... every developed country in the world other than the US, and most of the developing nations with free speech, have restrictions on free speech that essentially boil down to a basic rule: your right to say what you want stops at my right to be safe and free. If what you're saying can cause me harm, and it's not 100% true and backed up by verifiable facts, you're not allowed to say it. Even if it is backed up by verifiable facts, if it is likely to incite hatred or violence against me (say you're telling the wrong people I'm a lesbian), then you're not allowed to say it either.

    Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether your constitution protects your right to speak... your actions have consequences, and you need to take responsibility for them. The US Constitution is *not* a carte blanche to do whatever the hell you want, and the free speech provision says nothing about being exempt from the consequences of your speech, it only says that they won't prevent you from speaking in the first place.

  107. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Dishevel · · Score: 2

    You must remember though that he is locked up in the state of California.
    Because of recent goings on here almost no one on parole in the state can be locked up for parole violations.
    Only new crimes. Now probation is a little different and on the county level. But seriously. If we are not going to violate parolees in the state then putting a guy in jail for a simple probation violation just would not ever happen with anyone but this guy.

    He is locked up right now because people with power found it to be to their advantage to have him locked up. No other reason.

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  108. Re:Win-win for Obama... by jellomizer · · Score: 1

    It doesn't hurt that the media tends to be against him, playing over and over again every misspoken or out of context word.

    Like that stint about him "Liking to fire people". Where the context was being about to drop out of services that are not performing well. But noo, lets not use it in conext, just use is as sentance fragment to show how evil he is.

    Now I am not a Romney Supporter and will not vote for him... However. The media hasn't been fare with him.
     

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  109. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Rhacman · · Score: 0

    Posting to cancel accidental down-mod.

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  110. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Clearly, he's a dirtbag

    It is not illegal to be a dirtbag.

    "The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all." -- H. L. Mencken

    But apparently bank fraud IS illegal, and apparently being out on parole comes with a bunch of dirtbaggish things you are not allowed to do.

    Hope they have enough on him to keep him locked up.

    Is he really being locked up for violating his probation, or is that just a justification to arrest someone for saying something inconvenient? Supposedly he as arrested for making false statements to his probation officer. Is that something that a normal person would be jailed for?

    Parole, not probation. His sentence is not up yet for crimes he has already committed. I tend to say there is no such thing as a dumb question, but uh, it's pretty normal for someone to go back to jail for violating parole conditions, because that's what parole is... CONDITIONAL.

    He'll go argue his case to a parole board then go one way or another.

  111. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by ffflala · · Score: 1

    Martha Stewart spent five months in a federal prison in Alderson, WV, for making false statements to federal investigators --a lesser crime than lying to one's probation officer. THEN, after she spent five months in prison, she spent another five months under home confinement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Stewart#Incarceration

  112. Probation terms are absurd by JDG1980 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I can understand that, given the amount of publicity both nationally and worldwide, the government really had little choice but to enforce the probation terms once it came out who the filmmaker really was and that he must have violated the terms to go on YouTube to upload it.

    But when is someone going to point out that probation terms like these are absurd on their face? The Internet is a basic part of modern life. Everyone uses it, and even someone who tries to avoid it might well find themselves violating the terms by accident. (For instance, is using a GPS device counted as using the Internet? From a technical standpoint, that's often what is happening.) Probation terms ordering people to stay away from computers might have made some sense back in the days of Kevin Mitnick and Captain Crunch, but they are utter nonsense in 2012. You might as well make a probation term telling someone they can't watch TV or read a newspaper.

    1. Re:Probation terms are absurd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Driving a car is a basic part of life in the US too. We still take licenses away from repeat DUI offenders, because they've proven they're incapable of willingly obeying the social contract.

      Nakoula appears to be a pathological liar and cheat who is incapable of restraining himself from using the Internet to steal from others. Well, no more Internet for you, douchebag.

    2. RE: Probation terms are absurd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      DING DING DING! Somebody gets it!

      Seriously, probation is a huge pile of unconstitutional bullshit that's been foist on the American people for practically no reason (except to justify another deadweight loss of taxpayer dollars). It used to be if you were convicted of a crime, you'd do your time, pay your fine, and move on with your life. These days they always heap on the probation (no matter how petty the underlying offense may be) so they can keep grinding people through the system and extract more money from people's pockets.

      Caught with a small amount of drugs? Well since the amount was so small we ain't going to give you much jail time. But we are going to put you on two years probation - you will pee in the cup anytime we want you to during that period (you have no constitutional right to refuse), you will pay probation fees for the privilege of having your constitutional rights removed, you will attend AA meetings (no constitution right to refuse), and attend a treatment agency (who will tell us if you fuck up - you have no right to medical privacy).

      Shoplifted some food to feed yourself? Well we're sympathetic that you're going hungry, so we aren't going to send you to jail. But you have to be on probation and pay for it, in addition to paying your hundreds of dollars in court fines, and your restitution for the goods you stole (we don't care about that last one too much). You also have to pay for and attend this shoplifting class (you have no constitutional right to refuse), because it really works according to the report and campaign dollars they sent to us.

      If you fuck up at all we're going to drag you back into court and have a bunch of proceedings so we can decide what to do with you. We're going to take time away from prosecuting more weighty offenses and increase the already gargantuan backlog of civil cases we have (seriously) so we can decide whether to fine you more or jail you because your urine had a little bit of THC in it.

      I can't be the only one who sees this ridiculous waste for what is is can I? Seriously, if someone is a threat to society, then lock them up. If not, have them pay a fine and move on. Get rid of probation. Entirely. The police academy dropouts who work there can find another job where they will hopefully contribute something of substance to society, because they ain't doing shit for anybody right now.

    3. Re:Probation terms are absurd by PraiseBob · · Score: 1

      You realize these probation terms are very common for people who commit fraud via computer right? Just like Michael Vick wasn't allowed to own dogs as part of his probation, just like drug based crimes get routine urine testing. Avoiding the thing that got you in trouble is part of every criminals probation terms.

      If you signed a legal contract saying you would not watch television, would you go buy a new flatscreen and watch it every night? He isn't in trouble for browsing the web for a few minutes, or using a gps device to plan a trip. He didn't "accidentally" post video to youtube. It was a flagrant violation, and he most certainly knew that.

    4. Re:Probation terms are absurd by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, I know, its like totally part of modern life to use aliases in regular business dealings, including financial transactions.

    5. Re:Probation terms are absurd by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      You realize these probation terms are very common for people who commit fraud via computer right?

      Yes. That doesn't make it right.

      If you signed a legal contract saying you would not watch television, would you go buy a new flatscreen and watch it every night? He isn't in trouble for browsing the web for a few minutes, or using a gps device to plan a trip. He didn't "accidentally" post video to youtube. It was a flagrant violation, and he most certainly knew that.

      First, I wouldn't sign a legal contract saying I would not watch television unless there was quite a bit of consideration in it for me. Second, regardless of what the contract said, for it to be enforced after a violation the party petitioning the court should have to show that they were somehow harmed.

      I could care less if his posting to youtube was a "flagrant" violation. Putting a condition that somebody can't use youtube on a parole is a FAR more flagrant abuse of government power than anything this guy did.

      If somebody commits a crime, then punish them. Don't let them out of jail and then follow them around for years telling them they can't do things that are completely harmless.

    6. Re: Probation terms are absurd by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      Mod parent up.

      I actually don't mind probation terms that are perhaps a bit paternalistic and rehabilitative, if they ultimately work in the interests of the person who was just released. However, they should be fairly short-term in their application. They certainly shouldn't be dumb things like "don't use the internet" - even if they committed a computer-based crime. The goal is to reintroduce criminals into society and help them to reintegrate so that they don't go around hurting other people. Treating them like outcasts and lesser humans does NOT accomplish that.

      And I don't think any "crime" should be punished if there isn't even a victim.

  113. freedom of speech ??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    For all those who are showing sympathy with "nacoula", well i would what would reaction be, if you are one of the few millions christians living in the middle east, and suddenly your life is in danger just because some idiot want to practice freedom of speech.
    Freedom of speech ends when the freedom of others starts and when it does not hurt even the feeling of others (billions of muslims).
    What would your reaction be if someone insulted your mom face to face, under the so called "freedom of speech".

    It is time to put a limit for all these "manipulated nonsense"

    1. Re:freedom of speech ??? by king+neckbeard · · Score: 1

      Freedom of speech protects unpopular speech. You don't need freedom of speech to protect popular statements without controversy.

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
  114. Re:Selective Prosecution by ZombieBraintrust · · Score: 1

    He wasn't arrested for parole violations. He was arrested for embarrassing the state. The alleged violations are just the excuse they happen to be using. If they didn't have that, we would be hearing some BS about child porn on his computer instead.

    He is being sued by one of the actresses in the movie. He lied to the cast and used a fake when producing the movie. Using fake names is a violation of his parole. The condition exists because he used a fake name in bank fraud in the past. Not really selective prosecution when a victem is pushing for it.

  115. Don't you mean a win-loss situation? by Punto · · Score: 2

    On one hand, they got the guy who broke he law, that's a win. But on the other, it makes it look like he's being jailed for expressing his opinion about something controversial. That's a not a win, that's a loss.

    --

    --
    Stay tuned for some shock and awe coming right up after this messages!

    1. Re:Don't you mean a win-loss situation? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you got it backwards. Let me fix it for you:

      On one hand, he's being jailed for... expressing his opinion about something controversial. But on the other, it makes it look like... they got the guy who broke he law. That's a not a... loss, that's a... win

      Proof, before I got modded down to imaginary numbers: I drove 23 mph over posted speed limit today all the way home. Everybody on the freeway did. But if cops drove after me and counted the number of infractions, they could get enough for a life sentence, depending how fast they can count. Nobody goes after me, and nobody would put him in prison for posting a youtube video of his cat prancing around, trust me.

  116. Re:How is it understood as anything but punishment by TFAFalcon · · Score: 1

    The contents of the movie drew attention, Then people investigated who made it, and it turned out that he did, under an alias - a violation of his parole. So yes, the arrest happened only because of the contents of his movie, although he wasn't arrested FOR the contents of his movie - they were just the trigger that lead to his parole violation being made known.

  117. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by bedroll · · Score: 1

    This is no different than the Westboro Baptists that go around protesting at military funerals. They can get away with it it because it's not threatening anybody, and that's why it is the unfortunate side of acceptable Free Speech.

    WBP is half "church" half legal machine. They know the law and they work within it. They have to be very careful because they will be arrested and punished if they overstep their bounds at all. To that extent, WBP members have been arrested and I'm sure that members will be arrested in the future.

    It is very common to want legal justice to enforce social norms, as is the case here and with the WBP protests. In fact, many laws are enacted to do just that. If you're going to openly eschew social norms, say by making a highly inflammatory video, then you are wise to make sure there is no way that you can be punished for it, as the WBP do. This guy clearly did not do that, and his rap sheet makes it clear that he is something of a habitual fraudster. The prison door was open and waiting for him before he did this and that was spelled out in his agreement. Should we now be weeping for him because he provided an easy excuse to push him through it?

    Freedom of speech is so often used as an excuse to avoid any sort of punishment. Freedom of speech is not, and never will be, freedom from consequence. There is plenty of legal precedent for consequences to speech. You can be fired for certain speech. You can be jailed for certain speech. In this case, the consequence of his speech is that it caused media, and later prosecutors, to look into his background and expose that he was in violation of parole. He is not excused from his existing probation limitations because he created something that is constitutionally protected.

    And, since I find what he created to be abhorrent, I will gleefully celebrate his further incarceration.

  118. A great day for cinema fans by turkeyfeathers · · Score: 1

    Now if only Obama would do something about Uwe Boll.

  119. "For probation violations" by circletimessquare · · Score: 0

    (9,000 hysterical responses in defense of free speech.)

    People: you're not much of a defender of free speech if you don't have a brain.

    --
    intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
    1. Re:"For probation violations" by Nimey · · Score: 0

      Libertarians are not in general intelligent.

      --
      Hail Eris, full of mischief...

      E pluribus sanguinem
    2. Re:"For probation violations" by fustakrakich · · Score: 1

      No, it's that you irrationally support authoritarian censorship, which requires little, if any real thinking.

      --
      “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    3. Re:"For probation violations" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      People who think political opinion indicates intelligence are not in general intelligent.

      And no, I'm not a libertarian.

  120. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by tnk1 · · Score: 2

    Sure, anyone can probably be busted for some lame excuse, but this guy was convicted of actual criminal behavior before he was ever involved in this. The worst thing here is that he pissed people off and they are getting back at him. Still, you know what? I'd say he has the right to say what he likes, but he doesn't have the right to say it without people disliking him for it. If he hadn't been doing something illegal already, he'd still be walking the streets right now, video or not. It just so happens that he made some people *very* interested in whether he was doing something wrong. As it stands, I'd say his video is pretty good evidence of some shockingly bad decision making skills, so a criminal conviction is no surprise there.

    He made it his business to insult and bait an entire population, and that was entirely legal, but I'm just not really going to feel very bad when he suffers from the unforeseen consequences of his actions. What he did was legal, and his return to jail is legal too. I don't believe in karma, but if I did, I'd say karma is a bitch.

  121. well he a dead man anyways by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Regardless of how you feel, or about the legality in regards to his probation violation or other nefarious purposes.... He a mark man, some radical Islamist is going to kill him eventually unless our government protects him, sad thing though the easiest way to protect him is to put him in Solitary Confinement while he is in jail....would he get bail probably .... would he want it.... best have a safe house. ~ I feel for the guy, the govt wanted a scape goat and found one, instead of punishing the people that actually kill other people.

  122. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by tnk1 · · Score: 1

    What was it they got Hoffa for? Not for being an organized crime boss...

    You probably mean Al Capone. And they got Capone on tax evasion.

  123. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Jeng · · Score: 1

    What makes you think that they would put him in general population?

    --
    Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
  124. well islam (to submit).... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
  125. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Obfuscant · · Score: 0

    They can get away with it it because it's not threatening anybody, and that's why it is the unfortunate side of acceptable Free Speech.

    It is sad that the reason the founders created the First Amendment is now seen as an "unfortunate side" of the issue.

    Freedom of speech exists to protect speech that is not popular. It exists so that people can have their say, and that everyone else can hear them saying it.

    You may find it unfortunate that the Westboro Baptists have the right to say what they do, but that very freedom gives you the ability to counter whatever claims you wish to, and better yet, to know ahead of time whether or not you wish to associate with those people.

    It gives you, and everyone else, the opportunity to know what they think and to argue against it. Yes, they may be idiots, you may disagree with them, you may think they are scum. But would you rather not know that this opinion they hold is out there and active, or have them silenced and let whatever resentments or biases they have fester until it is uncontrollable? And, pray tell, just which speech would you censor in that way and which speech would you allow, and what happens when someone else disagrees with you?

  126. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

    If you jail people for lying then we have to put all of Congress in jail.

    You say that, but I'm sure that there are downsides as well.

    Well, you'd have to start by building a small jail and then proclaiming the inside to be the outside.

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  127. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

    If he hadn't been doing something illegal already, he'd still be walking the streets right now, video or not.

    This is why I mentioned the bit about 'if you have nothing to hide.'. If he hadn't had that criminal history behind him, what else do you think they would have dug up on him? "We found he downloaded 6 mp3 files, bring him in!"

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  128. Incitement to riot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    While I'm strictly for preservation of free speech, I wonder if what this guy did qualifies as inciting a riot? Here is the Montana code (first one to pop up but I assume CA law is similar):

    45-8-104. Incitement to riot. (1) A person commits the offense of incitement to riot if the person purposely and knowingly commits an act or engages in conduct that urges other persons to riot. The act or conduct may not include the mere oral or written advocacy of ideas or expression of belief that does not urge the commission of an act of immediate violence.
              (2) Except as provided in subsection (3), a person convicted of the offense of incitement to riot shall be fined not to exceed $500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both.
              (3) A person who commits the offense of incitement to riot while incarcerated at any state adult correctional facility shall be imprisoned for not less than 1 year or more than 5 years.

    Reading this two things stick out: One, it doesn't say the riot has to occur within the jurisdiction where the act occurred, IE a riot in Libya could theoretically be caused by an act in California. Two, and more importantly, the key is "the person purposely and knowingly commits an act or engages in conduct that urges other persons to riot." I have read that at least some of the people (not necessarily this guy) involved with this film WANTED Islamists to riot. I think a fairly direct argument could be made that under a statute like this if they had the intent of causing a riot they could be charged. Additionally if two or more had the intent, bam - criminal conspiracy.

    Now as to whether this is right or wrong is a far murkier issue. While I think speech should be protected at all costs, at the same time I don't think someone should get away with what is effectively a criminal act. At the turn of the 20th century Lynch Mobs were fairly common place. And if someone wanted someone dead it was fairly easy to get other people to kill him by creating a sufficiently salacious rumor. In effect I see that is what this guy did. Get other people to do his dirty work for him.

    Full disclosure, I am the son of a muslim woman and a catholic father and consider myself to be agnostic.

    1. Re:Incitement to riot? by king+neckbeard · · Score: 1

      A statute is trumped by the first amendment if they conflict, and the statute in question seems to require pretty direct advocacy. This wouldn't even pass the sniff test if Muslims had been the victims of a riot, so it certainly wouldn't apply in this case.

      --
      This is my signature. There are many like it, but this one is mine.
    2. Re:Incitement to riot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think this filmmaker is a scumbag, and I shed no tear that he's in jail for parole violation. I certainly would have an issue with him being in jail for merely expressing opinions, even ones as offensive as those conveyed in his film. But he is not. He is, rightly, in jail for parole violation. The facts are abundantly clear.

      I don't think the statute you quoted would allow his actions to be interpreted as "inciting a riot." Note my emphasis below:

      45-8-104. Incitement to riot. (1) A person commits the offense of incitement to riot if the person purposely and knowingly commits an act or engages in conduct that urges other persons to riot. The act or conduct may not include the mere oral or written advocacy of ideas or expression of belief that does not urge the commission of an act of immediate violence.

      Unless his film actually called for people to riot or commit violence, then I read the above as saying he did not satisfy the legal definition of inciting a riot. As another poster mentioned in this thread, the advocacy (to riot) has to be quite direct.

  129. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Hatta · · Score: 1

    This AC has said about all there is to say on the subject. I'm as staunch an advocate of free speech as anyone. I think the "fire in a crowded theatre" canard is way overplayed, and I think national security exceptions to free speech endanger our national security in and of themselves. I'd rather see goatse on every billboard in the country than have any restrictions on obscenity whatsoever. Even I can't find a reason to be upset about parole violations leading to revocation of that parole.

    --
    Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  130. The thing is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...regardless of popular opinion based on the liberal media, though grossly exaggerated, the film in question is somewhat accurate. Anyone who doesn't think so I would encourage to read this book and other books in the same series.

  131. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Jeng · · Score: 1

    If he hadn't had that criminal history behind him, what else do you think they would have dug up on him?

    I think there would have been concern from the government but otherwise nothing.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Jones_(pastor)

    --
    Don't know something? Look it up. Still don't know? Then ask.
  132. Re:Win-win for Obama... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Obama's not an idiot; he's a highly competent cryptofascist overlord. Based on his first term I have to conclude that his primary objective is an indefinite undeclared-martial-law police state, cost be damned. He clearly considers human life and liberty expendable, doubly so for noncitizens.

    And yes, I'll probably vote for him anyway. Lay off, people, I already feel bad enough about it. This election is like choosing between Ivan the Terrible and Rasputin. (Yes, I know that Ivan the Simple and Boris the Cobbler are running too. But I'm not going to throw my vote away!)

  133. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by PRMan · · Score: 1

    Clearly, he's a dirtbag

    I wonder how many Slashdotters who are making claims like this are the same ones who mock Christians in other posts? If I had time, I would make the Slashdot hypocrisy list.

    --
    Peter predicted that you would "deliberately forget" creation 2000 years ago...
  134. There is no free speech issue. by raehl · · Score: 4, Informative

    He's a felon on parole. There are conditions to that parole. If a felon offered parole doesn't want to agree to the conditions of his release, he is welcome to stay in prison, where he can continue to say whatever he would like.

    Being on parole and violating the conditions of your parole in a spectacular manner and NOT expecting to be put back in prison as a result is ridiculously dumb.

    For example, one of the conditions of his parole that he not use the internet unsupervised.

    If he goes to the library and uses the internet unsupervised, likely no one notices and nothing happens.

    If he goes to the library and uses the internet to start a blog claiming Mitt Romney is a polygamist, and it gets picked up by the media, he's going back to prison.

    Parolees should not violate parole. Parolees who do not want to go back to prison should definitely not get CAUGHT violating parole.

    You don't get a free pass just because you say something extremely objectionable while violating your parole.

    1. Re:There is no free speech issue. by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      He's a felon on parole. There are conditions to that parole. If a felon offered parole doesn't want to agree to the conditions of his release, he is welcome to stay in prison, where he can continue to say whatever he would like.

      Wow. The USA. Where you can speak freely as long as you don't mind saying it in prison. :)

      What is the point of putting people in prison in the first place? What is the point of letting people out with crazy rules like "you aren't allowed to use a computer?" Either the guy is rehabilitated or he isn't. I'm fine with revoking parole when people commit crimes that are real crimes while on parole. However, putting conditions on parole that restrict fundamental freedoms like freedom of speech, or which make it difficult to obtain gainful employment simply is morally wrong. If it is standard practice, that just makes all of society morally wrong.

    2. Re:There is no free speech issue. by raehl · · Score: 1

      He can speak freely out of prison, so long as speaking freely didn't involve lying about his identity or using the internet.

      The US has a due process for taking rights away from people. If you commit crimes, you're going to lose some of your rights.

    3. Re:There is no free speech issue. by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      And what value does preventing him from using the internet serve, or from using a pseudonym? If he were to defraud people out of money, I'd be fine with punishing him for it. However, just because the guy committed a crime on the internet or using an alias, I don't see why that is reason to bar him from doing those very generic and completely legal activities.

      Just because a process was involved does not make it right.

      I don't dispute that the US has a process for doing these sorts of things. I was simply stating that it is morally wrong.

    4. Re:There is no free speech issue. by raehl · · Score: 1

      If he were to defraud people out of money, I'd be fine with punishing him for it.

      Exactly!

      However, just because the guy committed a crime on the internet or using an alias, I don't see why that is reason to bar him from doing those very generic and completely legal activities.

      Wait, what huh?

      This guy ALREADY used the internet and fake names to defraud people, got caught and was convicted. He was sentenced to a few years in prison as punishment for his crimes.

      Before the end of his prison sentence, the government gave him the option to finish out his sentence on parole instead of in prison. BUT, as a condition of being able to be on parole and out of prison instead of staying in prison for the rest of his sentence, he had to agree not to use the internet and not use fake names.

      Those prohibitions were in place because he was still serving his sentence for the original crime.

      Remember, this isn't your average person, nor is it even someone who was previously committed for a crime. He's a convicted felon who has NOT completed his prison sentence yet. He was given the option to complete his sentence outside of prison under certain conditions, he didn't honor those conditions, so he gets to complete his original sentence in prison instead.

      Remember, he's not being given any additional penalty for his latest actions; he's just being required to serve out the ORIGINAL penalty in prison since he wasn't willing to abide by the conditions of his parole. Put another way, the government never took away his ability to post on the internet or use fake names in a (non-criminal) manner. HE agreed not to do those things in exchange for not having to stay in prison for the whole sentence.

    5. Re:There is no free speech issue. by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      So, think about it this way - why the heck would we let a person we thought was likely to hurt people out of prison? The answer is simple - we wouldn't.

      So, if he isn't likely to hurt people, why ban him from using the internet? Actually, even if he is likely to hurt people, why do that? If the guy commits bank fraud wouldn't it make more sense to ban him from having a bank account, or writing checks, or engaging in trade?

      Suppose I charge you with murder, and then offer to let you plead guilty for 60 days in prison, otherwise if a jury convicts you then you'll serve the rest of your life in jail. Your lawyer advises you that even though you profess innocence you're moderately likely to get convicted and given the stakes you're way better off pleading guilty. So, which is it, are you being forced to stay in prison, or did you simply agree to rot in jail for 2 months to avoid rotting there for your whole life?

      The fact that he consented doesn't matter, because he wasn't really given any real choice in the matter.

    6. Re:There is no free speech issue. by raehl · · Score: 1

      Apparently you're not familiar with the definition of likely.

      We could think he's unlikely to harm people, especially if he's not using the internet or false names.

      But if he is using the internet or false names, we may then think it's far more likely he might harm someone.

      So we say, hey, we don't think you're likely to harm anyone, so we're going to let you out. But if you do things that indicate our original judgement was incorrect, then we'll have to put you back in prison.

      There are plenty of people who earn parole, abide by their conditions of parole, and do no harm. There are some that don't. Should we put in place a standard that we don't let anyone on parole unless we're 100% certain they will cause no harm? Then no one would ever go out on parole.

      So we strike a balance.

      And the fact that he consented absolutely matters, because he was given a choice: The choice was, "Defraud other people and be sent to prison, or don't defraud other people." He chose defraud other people, and got sent to prison. Then, after being sent to prison, he was given a second choice, which was, "Agree to these conditions and we'll let you out of prison." He could have chosen to stay in prison. Unfortunately he already chose to commit fraud, so he didn't have access to the same choices as someone who was not a convicted felon.

    7. Re:There is no free speech issue. by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      Unfortunately he already chose to commit fraud, so he didn't have access to the same choices as someone who was not a convicted felon.

      Yes, but we're all the worse off for he and others like him not having access to the choice of free expression on the internet. The selective enforcement of the parole conditions is going to lead to a chilling effect on free speech. For those who would like to become productive members of society, not being allowed to use the internet certainly isn't going to help. Since this condition tends to be most imposed on those who commit computer-based crimes it basically prevents gainful employment in the area of life where they are most likely to be able to obtain it.

    8. Re:There is no free speech issue. by raehl · · Score: 1

      I'm not sure how "Will make people whose parole conditions include not using the internet worry about using the internet" is a chilling effect on free speech.

      It's hard to become a productive member of society while in prison. I would thus advise not becoming a criminal.

    9. Re:There is no free speech issue. by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      It's hard to become a productive member of society while in prison. I would thus advise not becoming a criminal.

      Well, duh.

      But the fact is that for whatever reason the guy decided to become a criminal. So now what do we do with him? We can spend a lot of money punishing him and turn him loose to repeat offend so that we can spend a lot more money punishing him some more. We could just shoot him, or leave him in prison forever (the first is theoretically cheap but for various reasons practically expensive, the latter is just expensive). Or, we could actually try to turn the guy into somebody who won't commit further crimes.

      Should we have to babysit the guy? No. Is it worth our time or money, even if we're completely selfish? Yes.

      I'd submit that dumb rules like don't use the internet just further alienate people like this from society and make them more likely to remain criminals.

    10. Re:There is no free speech issue. by raehl · · Score: 1

      So can I assume your sudden desire to talk about the most effective way to rehabilitate criminals is acceptance that this isn't a free speech issue?

    11. Re:There is no free speech issue. by Rich0 · · Score: 1

      No.

  135. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's called satire. The video was what one guy interpreted Islam to be and he expressed it as a fictional story. If we can't even do that, then free speech be damned.

  136. They investigated the video, not the guy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How did they know who made the video? They investigated it. It's not like he used his real name. i.e. the govt doesn't like what's being said, so they investigate the video, which leads them to a guy and they figure out a way to arrest him. There never should have been an investigation in the first place.

  137. In other words, ... by J'raxis · · Score: 1

    In other words, it's legal harassment. Hopefully if there's any provable connection between his arrest and the video, this turns into a multi-million dollar First Amendment lawsuit.

    I think the guy's a bigot. But bigots have a right to be bigots in this country whether the political establishment likes it or not.

  138. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by J'raxis · · Score: 1

    Yup, he's a dirtbag.

    And hopefully he ends up a very rich dirtbag after a successful First Amendment lawsuit over this. "Dirtbags" have the same right to freedom of speech as you do in this country.

  139. President sending wrong message by meandmatt · · Score: 1

    Despite any valid points that may follow, All I see here is "Our President" trying to send the message to the Muslim Population that we are punishing this man and "are sorry" for his Infidel behavior. Thanks the wrong DAMN message! The correct message is: Here in America we treasure freedom and many Americans gave there lives for it. We feel the childish knee-jerk killing and rioting within some of your societies as a result of watching or hearing about something that offends you is evidence of your adolescence. Most Christian by contrast argue by acts of love, we are indeed offended by much in society and see it as an opportunity to pray for and help those individuals and understand there is sin in the world. We don't kill them! This guy has some problems, he needs help, I am glad that the law did its duty. I just wish our President would.

    1. Re:President sending wrong message by Yunzil · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Please post your evidence that the president had anything at all to do with this. Thanks.

  140. True. by publiclurker · · Score: 1

    But what are the odds that anyone would have noticed the violation. It's one thing to go against the rules. It's onother to go against the rules and then jump up and down waving a flag to get everyone's attention.

  141. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by ultranova · · Score: 1

    Yes, he really is being jailed for his actual wrongdoings.

    Maybe. But then again, as the summary and you say, this is very convenient for the US government, so how do we know this isn't another made-up charge like with Julian Assange?

    --

    Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

  142. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by HiThere · · Score: 1

    I can't say I'm upset about it either. But I also acknowledge that the mechanism used to return him to jail, i.e., annoying someone important, is a very dangerous thing to exist, and can (and has) been used in much more objectionable ways.

    The law was enforced against him because he annoyed someone more powerful. Most parole violations do not result in reincarceration. Often even repeated parole violations don't get more than a warning. That he gets jail is excessive.

    OTOH, IIUC, his treatment of the actors and actresses in the film merits his being sued into total bankruptcy, probably for copyright violation. TOTAL. It was, in my non-lawyer opinion illegal as well as immoral. (He may not be much worse than most Hollywood producers, but that's a very low bar to jump over. A worm could do it. And saying he wasn't much worse isn't denying that he was worse.)

    --

    I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  143. Still haven't found the claim of "illegal" then. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Gosh, you haters really are a bunch of idiots.

    Poster says: "He's a scumbag" with no mention of whether its illegal or not.

    Idiot arsehile saus "It's not illegal to be a scumbag".

    Well so what? It's not illegal to park in your own drive either.

    So I point out that this poster is missing any claim that the original poster has said he's a scumbag and this is illegal.

    Then YOU, the braindead fuckwit, double down on the stupid and continue to whine about it.

    Seems you're OK with free speech as long as it says free speech is the best ever....

  144. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by PickyH3D · · Score: 1

    You misunderstood my stance on the matter. I think even the founders would agree that the WBC stands on the unfortunate side of free speech. They are protected, when clearly no one wants them to be, simply to protect everything else. But, I still think, like the founders, that they are a necessary evil to put up with to avoid the slippery slope that it would otherwise create.

  145. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by ubermiester · · Score: 2

    the administration is still talking about the stupid irrelevant film instead of the fact that the Libya attack was obviously a planned and successful Al Qaeda operation to assassinate a US ambassador

    What? How about this? I for one would like to avoid making foreign policy based on assumptions and hearsay. Or perhaps you're a Mittens man and would rather jump to wild conclusions before any real information is available?

    And before you start wailing about how some of those early baseless assumptions turned out to be partly true, I would remind you that a broken clock is right twice a day...

    Also, while the attack was clearly a blow to our local Libyan intelligence operation - in addition to the obvious human tragedy - the impact of the movie and its subsequent protests are more troubling because they demonstrate how there is a downside to greater freedom of expression in the region. There is clearly an attempt by extremists (religious and governmental) to hijack that freedom to let everyone know that they are still a potent force. The trick is to respect the protests while not allowing them to be completely one-sided. The counter-protests in Libya are a good example of this.

  146. Desensatized? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Myself It seems like there must not be enough criticism of Muslims if this is how they react.
    If Christians reacted this way every time someone dropped a crucifix in a bottle of urine the whole country would be on fire 24/7.
    Seems to me the 'artists' out there aren't offending people equally or this type of things would be a non issue.

  147. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by ultranova · · Score: 1

    If some guy in the street says that my mother is a scabby whore, should he share the blame if I were to then pull out a knife and cut out his liver?

    Wouldn't these riots be more like you cutting out your brother's liver because someone else called your mother a whore? Which probably says more about Islam than any Youtube video ever could.

    --

    Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

  148. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by HiThere · · Score: 1

    Good example. She was another person who was prosecuted to distract attention away from larger criminals.

    And by "another" I mean this guy was too. Both appear to be guilty as charged. And in both cases that isn't sufficient to explain why *they* were chosen to prosecute.

    The difference, of course, is that Martha Stewart doesn't appear to have had any malice, while this guy was loaded with it. And the criminals that Martha Stewart took the fall for had no real connection to her, and were powerful WITHIN the country, while those this guy is taking the fall for aren't guilty of the crimes that he is charged with, and are outside the country. Neither is the conventional "fall guy" setup, but in both cases the "victim" ends up in jail for the convenience of external forces, not *because* they committed the crime (though they did, apparently, commit it.)

    I hadn't noticed that parallel before. Thanks for pointing it out.

    --

    I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  149. Re:Win-win for Obama... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    as a dunken titth bar patrin i take offense at this cmparisom

  150. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by reboot246 · · Score: 1

    No need to go to youtube. Just watch the last half hour or so of Bill Maher's Religulous. That's a well-made popular movie that is even more insulting to Islam.

    One wonders why Muslims didn't go apeshit over it. And one wonders what Maher's life expectancy would be if he lived in Iran.

    The simple fact is they don't like us. Didn't a hundred years ago, didn't a year ago, and won't like us tomorrow. And now, thanks to Obama's apologies and bowing to everybody he gets near, they don't respect us either. Look for things to get much worse before they get better.

  151. win win? by pseudorand · · Score: 1

    I'd say it's a lose lose. If he's violating parole, we have to arrest him, but that make the violent criminals* of the Muslim world think their crimes impact the behavior of the US government.

    * No, I don't mean all Muslims, just those willing to kill and destroy property because some idiot said something mean about the Profit**.

    ** I wonder if Jesus and Mohamed are in heaven asking God to make with the lightning bolts every time someone makes fun of them down hear on earth?

  152. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Cinder6 · · Score: 1

    In that very article you linked, it says that "mere offensiveness does not qualify as 'fighting words'." I've only skimmed through the video, so it may be what I'm about to say next is wrong, but that's all it looked like it was--offensive.

    --
    If you can't convince them, convict them.
  153. SIdes taken. by meglon · · Score: 0

    Reading through the comments here, it really seems to boil down to two sides.

    Those who see a convicted felon, a fraud, a meth dealer, violating his parole and because of his violations of parole being so obvious to pretty much anyone with a brain, the convicted drug dealing fraud being put back in jail.

    The other side is the anti-Obama crowd who's new hero is a convicted drug dealing fraud who violated his parole, but because they're anti-Obama, he's the next best thing since sliced bread.

    I guess we can see who's actually weak on crime" these days.

    --
    Fascism: An authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization. See also: NAZI's
  154. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by StormyWeather · · Score: 1

    Funny.. they are digging up a driveway right now to look for him.
    http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/09/28/soil-samples-to-be-taken-from-detroit-driveway-in-search-for-jimmy-hoffa/

    But your right, they still haven't found him.

  155. Linsey Lohan by phorm · · Score: 1

    they release them after 45 minutes because the jails are too full

    Probably more because they need to be given "special treatment" and segregation from other prisoners who aren't rich and famous, which adds cost.
    Maybe if LL was in with gen-pop then she'd clean up her act.

  156. Re:Win-win for Obama... by HiThere · · Score: 2

    When has the media ever been fair. They don't even cover natural disasters honestly. I saw coverage of a fire near where I live, and from the TV it looked like the entire city was in flames. Yeah, it was pretty bad, but it covered less than 1/10th (I'm not sure how much less), as I discovered when I got back.

    In this case I can't complain about they way they are panning Romney. What I do object to is that before the election started they didn't criticize Obama properly. He's an enemy of freedom, possibly an enemy of humanity (though that *may* be an overstatement). That Romney is worse doesn't mean I feel I can vote for Obama. Talk about throwing your vote away...voting for either of them is worse than throwing your vote away. So I'll vote for some minor party, and be sorry that the incompetent that I vote for doesn't have a chance to win. (None of the minor parties I've investigated have a candidate who could even understand more than a fraction of the job of a president. Different parties understand different fractions. And none of them could get much cooperation from congress...or maybe they could? After all, none of the minor parties are the official enemy...

    --

    I think we've pushed this "anyone can grow up to be president" thing too far.
  157. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by DragonWriter · · Score: 1

    Yes, he really is being jailed for his actual wrongdoings. You are not allowed to use aliases on probation.

    Or, at least, he wasn't by the specific terms of his probation.

    He used an alias and did something infamous with it.

    Something that involved making a posting to the internet without prior consultation with the Probation Officer which was, also, prohibited by his probation terms.

  158. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by ultranova · · Score: 1

    Ultimately, it doesn't matter whether your constitution protects your right to speak... your actions have consequences, and you need to take responsibility for them. The US Constitution is *not* a carte blanche to do whatever the hell you want, and the free speech provision says nothing about being exempt from the consequences of your speech, it only says that they won't prevent you from speaking in the first place.

    So in short, my right to free speech is conditional on whether every human being on this planet approve of what I say. If they don't, I, not them, am responsible for anything they might do to show their displeasure. Also, North Korea has complete freedom of speech because it doesn't ball-gag its citizens pre-emptively.

    But tell me, does responsibility for one's own actions not extend to muslims? Are those following Islam not adults capable of controlling themselves? Because if they are, then they, not a Youtube troll, are responsible for these riots; and if not, then that puts Islam in far worse light than any video could.

    --

    Forget magic. Any technology distinguishable from divine power is insufficiently advanced.

  159. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How do *we* know you aren't Julian Assange?

  160. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Mister+Whirly · · Score: 1

    I find that if you know someone wants to shoot you, providing them with the ammunition to do so is not a wise move.

    --
    "But this one goes to 11!"
  161. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

    Way to miss the point. Seriously.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  162. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by greg_barton · · Score: 1

    Yes, he really is being locked up for violating his probation, which he no doubt was violating long before the kerfuffle over the video. The video simply made him more noticeable to the system. Sorry to deny your outrage, but it's as simple as that.

  163. Conveniently missing from this discussion... by slew · · Score: 1

    I don't know if this was actually true, but originally there was some reporting that under terms of his probation, he was not allowed to use computers or the Internet for five years without approval from his probation officer. I would have suspected some outrage in ./ over a condition like that.

    As I understand it, communicating with folks uploading a video to the internet under an alias is what he's been held on. But what people seem to be concentrating on is the alias part (which seems a bit hippocrtical given the typical number of AC poist made on ./ as well)...

  164. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by neonfrog · · Score: 1

    Which, ironically, has the side benefit of protecting his life.

    --

    I'm thinking about it, therefore I might be.

  165. Arresting for Unrelated Petty Allegations is Lose- by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The U.S. government twitching up some unrelated petty allegations to arrest Nakoula "for something" to "show we're doing something" is ten points more down-scale on the corrupt-system index that the "Bring in the usual suspects" made cynical fun of in "Casablanca". The United States has sold its, granted undeserved, reputation for freedom of speech for the satisfaction of a petty snit that made it uncomfortable. It paid with a classic thug-cop muscle technique that isn't even movie-cliche calibre.

    The fact is, Nakoula, an Egyptian Coptic Christian, was within his rights to make his loosely Mohammed-story based sleaze-level soft-porn film: The United States, with the tacit, if not overt, support of the rest of the Anti-Muslim nations, had exercised its "free speech" rights in the Middle East in ways that produced results that included the Coptic Christians of Egypt, for being identified Christians, evne though they are considerably different from the Judeo-Christian Christians those stirring Muslim hatred identify themselves to, being attacked where they, but not the "free-speaker" perpetrators of atrocities against Muslims were available. Making a film is a whole lot less aggressive form of "free speech" than dropping bombs and carrying out drone-missile attacks. In fact, it is real free speech. The damagings of the properties and the killings of a few incidental innocents in retaliations is what the U.S. and its allies have repeatedly shrugged off as of no consequence, when the innocents were not their own. Fair play, if the United States was a fair play nation, would require the same shrugging off of damage to innocents. The United States proving itself not a fair player, a liar, and as capable of petty tyranny as any other tyrant state sums up to proving itself hypocrital as well as tyrannical.

  166. Re:Still haven't found the claim of "illegal" then by PickyH3D · · Score: 1

    Me thinks you misunderstood my entire post. I was not attacking the use of the word illegal in the GP post, nor was I getting into whether the OP actually used the word, which he clearly and literally did not.

    I was attacking your definition of free speech, and how it applies to the United States, which was flatly wrong. Finally, I was separately attacking the idiocy of your last statement regarding a lack of Muslim hypocrisy.

    It makes sense that you did not get it, as you did not refute a single point that I made, nor do you coherently make any of your own. For example:

    So I point out that this poster is missing any claim that the original poster has said he's a scumbag and this is illegal.

    The original poster literally called the person a dirtbag in the title of his post, which is synonymous with scumbag. The poster that you responded too was making the--apparently to you--audacious point that simply being a dirtbag is not illegal in-and-of-itself, linking the idea that him being locked up because of making a film that has incited Muslim rage goes against free speech. Then you made a series of misinformed, or downright wrong points.

    In summary, you were wrong in your last post on all but one thing: the OP never literally said "illegal." And you're still wrong about everything, except that.

    As I ended my last post, continue moving forward with your blinders on.

  167. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You are confusing Hoffa with Al Capone, who was jailed for tax evasion.

    The first rule of shady operations and underworld dealings: If you're going to be a public figure doing things that piss off a lot of law enforcement officials, you make DAMN sure you keep your nose CLEAN. You want surgeons asking you to perform brain tumor operations with your nose, that's how clean you want it. Because if you don't and you make one mistake, just one tiny, unrelated mistake, you, my friend, are done for.

    Clearly, the douchebag making this film needed more lessons.

  168. that movie was so stupid... by issicus · · Score: 1

    I don't know how anyone could sit through it. maybe it's more entertaining in Arabic..

  169. Lesson learned by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    If you have ANY loose legal ends that you have not tied up, don't make a public statement that the government doesn't like.

    Your 'rights' end at the door.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  170. Re:Win-win for Obama... by Doctor_Jest · · Score: 1

    You should go to a higher class establishment. :)

    --
    It's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
  171. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by DM9290 · · Score: 1

    "Freedom of speech does not cover shouting fire in a crowded theatre"

    Why?

    It doesn't harm anyone.

    it harms people because they are obligated on pain of a fiery death to flee the building. during that time they are exposed to an increased risk of being trampled by the other people you obligated (on pain of a fiery death) to flee the building. Believing you when you yell fire is rational because fires happen on a regular basis, and people are killed in fires on a regular basis.

    "Freedom of speech does not cover incitement to violence"

    Since this is the entire point of this movie, you therefore agree it is not free speech.

    Well done.

    The movie is not an incitement to violence.

    If some imam gets offended and tells people to commit violence then it is the imam who is inciting. The movie never told anybody to kill anybody.

    --
    No one has a right to their *own* opinion. They have a right to the TRUTH.
  172. Re:Win-win for Obama... by Doctor_Jest · · Score: 1

    Yes, but I suppose it could be that it's the stupid they know, rather than the stupid they don't (obama over romney)... ;) Politicians in general are all big friggin' idiots, so it's really trying to pick one that didn't eat as much lead paint chips as a child. (Sometimes I wonder....)

    --
    It's the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
  173. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by DM9290 · · Score: 1

    he wasn't jailed for making this movie. he was jailed for violating his parole. someone else could have made the exact same movie without any consequences. In fact he might still be acquitted for violating his parole if he can establish that the police went far out of their way to nitpick his activity beyond what they would normally do for other parolees. Everyone is supposed to be treated with the same legal standards and not be treated more harshly simply because some legal activity pisses off a a religious group.

    And make no mistake, Muslims were pissed off because of the movie, not because of a suspected parole violation.

    If his detention is motivated by political purposes and not merely because of a parole violation, he could very well have a lawsuit against the State.

    --
    No one has a right to their *own* opinion. They have a right to the TRUTH.
  174. He is not who we think he is.... by Dark+Coder · · Score: 1

    "Innocence of Muslims" was produced by Islamists.

    Nakoula Basseley Nakoula is Meth-dealer-Egyptian-Coptic-anti-Muslim-activist-fundamentalist-Christian. Then on the other hand, Eiad Salameh appears to be a Muslim-fundamentalist-Palestinian-scam-artist-terrorist.

    We're being duped again (and that includes me as well) by the ill-informed Media.

    Walid Shoebat has the drop on these guys on his blog.

  175. commonly called "fruit of the poisoned tree" by RobertLTux · · Score: 1

    As this looks to be a movie designed to enrage "Enemies of the State" yes they did track down the guy that made the movie to see WHY he made the movie. Im not sure that anything "fishy" is happening since they could have arranged for him to

    1 be found by US based extremists
    2 been "shot while resisting arrest"

    since we do have paws on him i say ring up the Libyans and tell them " we have the guy that did that movie you wanna trade him for the guys that killed our ambassador??"

    --
    Any person using FTFY or editing my postings agrees to a US$50.00 charge
    1. Re:commonly called "fruit of the poisoned tree" by cayenne8 · · Score: 1

      As this looks to be a movie designed to enrage "Enemies of the State" yes they did track down the guy that made the movie to see WHY he made the movie.

      Err...exactly WHEN did this become a duty of the federal, or state government??

      When did it even become slightly against any law to make a film or publish anything that enrage an 'enemy of the state' of the US??

      I certainly hope you're being cynical or sarcastic....and not serious.

      --
      Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  176. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by luther349 · · Score: 1

    we have been doing that for a long time now. they fuck up and blame someone else. just like with islam do they really think they are gonna quit being asshats just because we tell them to stop. they will quit when there is not enough of there country left or enough alive to be a threat. and until that happens i tune out on this garbage because that's all it is. and im not talking bought like iraq where we went in and have are dicks around then left.

  177. Anti-Dirtbag Laws by TiggertheMad · · Score: 1

    I thought it was for the criminally bad acting and scripting of the movie.

    If this was true, most of Hollywood would be arrested, and Michael Bay would be in GitMo solitary.

    --

    HA! I just wasted some of your bandwidth with a frivolous sig!
  178. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Obfuscant · · Score: 1

    You misunderstood my stance on the matter. I think even the founders would agree that the WBC stands on the unfortunate side of free speech. They are protected, when clearly no one wants them to be,

    No, it seems I understood your stance on the matter very well. It is not "unfortunate" that these people have free speech rights, nor is it entirely clear that "no one wants them" to have such rights. (Clearly, they, themselves, want themselves to have such rights; just as clearly, many many service members have fought and died to protect that right for others, even those they do not agree with.) The First Amendment was created specifically to protect such speech. Not the specific content, but most assuredly the kind of speech.

    This is the problem with someone saying 'I don't think THEY ought to have that right' whilst enjoying that right themselves. "I don't think people who form a corporation should have the right to free speech" (paraphrashed), wrote a local nonprofit corporation board member in a corporate publication. The very epitome of "I want mine but you can go screw yourself". Our city council appears to be speaking in support of "Move To Amend", which seeks to remove the right of free speech from "artificial entities" (and a local city government is just as artificial as a corporation formed to promote the production and presentation of a political movie.)

    If you think that the First Amendment is "unfortunate" because it protects speech you don't like, then rest assured that there is someone who will not like what you say and your right is enshrined in the same amendment that theirs is. If you are willing to be silent when others don't like what you say, then you may seek that from others.

  179. Re:Win-win for Obama... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Romney will probably spend more than Obama. He will spend it on different things than Obama. Romney is an idiot for a broad definition of idiot hinging on a lack of self knowledge and emotional maturity. He does not understand people who aren't rich. He does not understand what it is like to do hard work, early in the morning, every day, your whole life, until the stress kills you, just for the privilege of sliding more slowly down the social ladder than you would otherwise.

    He is an idiot because he genuinely thinks he does understand those people, thinks he has something to offer them that is even remotely relevant to their lives, and thinks he deserves the job on account of sheer rich-white-holy-coiffed-smiling dudedness. If you're a rich, white, Christian man with nice hair who can smile even when visibly angry, all you have to do is sign up on the canary sheet in your highschool gym and wait for your turn as president.

    Obama is an idiot becaus he thinks any law, tax, penalty, or brutal assassination of an American child is a pragmatic act of political courage as long as it's drafted with a pure, progressive heart.

    Vote third party, idiot.

  180. Did not spark violence by wealthychef · · Score: 1

    No matter how abhorrent the movie, what sparked the violence was the acceptance that violence in the name of Islam is justified.

    --
    Currently hooked on AMP
  181. Read the write up at least by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He violated parole moron. Or are you that dense / troll like you can't read anything? This had nothing to do with the video hence a win win, kind of like me putting you in my ignore list.

  182. Showboating... by YankDownUnder · · Score: 1

    So much for Freedom of Speech; political showboating is the win-win.

    --
    YankDownUnder Veni, Vidi, volo in domum redire
  183. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by verifine · · Score: 1

    I believe we'd have to put most government employees in jail. Yes, we do have many really good people in government service, but the real problem is that government "service" tends to attract the worst in society. I could use words like "greedy," "avaricious," and "corrupt" but that would tend to denigrate them. I know people who have worked in government and left in disgust. If I knew only one, I'd write it off - but I know several.

  184. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    He wasn't using aliases because he's afraid people wanted to kill him. He was using aliases to commit multiple cases of fraud. THAT's why the terms of his probation included "NO ALIASES", and he violated those terms.

  185. Move along, nothing to see here... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Obama administration's "internet access violators division" is just doing what it does to every person in the US who, as a term of probation, has been told not to log onto the net. Yep! Yessiree, why every person within the borders of the US who is in violation of some probation term is swiftly picked-up and frog-walked into a police station then dragged before a judge and tossed into a jail cell... particularly if it's some really big violation like "internet access", as opposed to something like "stabbing a dude" or molesting a child...

    Ignore the fact that thousands of hardened criminals are being let out of the jails in California due to overcrowding... this guy must go back into a jail cell for logging onto the internet... yeah... right.... How dare you think the Obama administration is trying to appease the masses in the middle-east to calm them down and make the administration's foreign policy look better in the lead-up to the election

    When Obama ignored US laws and took over the car companies (stealing them from their share holders, many of whom were middle-class retired people) then replaced the CEOs (with no law giving him the authority) and then, effectively gave majority control of them to the unions (again, in a lawless way), everything was wonderful and his liberal supporters loved him for it... after all, why should a modern messiah be limited by laws? But now he is using his power to jail somebody for making a film against a religion... hmmmmmmm.... that's some precedent.... Some future president now can use the precedent to jail a filmmaker for insulting the Catholic church, or the Mormon church, or the Amish, or pro-life southern Baptists, or some anti-gay church...

    Tyranny always looks great and feels exiting when your guy is the one doing it and your agenda is being advanced....

    Tyranny sucks when the other guys get in control and use the machines you built to come after you...

    Best not to build big systems that enable tyranny, and never to support tyrants no matter which way they are aimed

  186. Assume this position by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Human nature is such that those in power will have to prove OTHERWISE that this man was not effectually arrested for a political crime.

  187. Parole == Conditional freedom by TapeCutter · · Score: 1

    but let's not pretend that once he got the attention that it didn't become somebody's job to dig this up.

    You have the timeline ass-backwards

    There really is "nothing to see" here, there was no star chamber determining his fate, just a parole officer doing his job watching yet another arsehole who thinks laws and morals only apply to others. To me the most offensive part of all this is that he (morally, if not legally) defrauded the young actors. I don't object to him daring his enemies to cut his own head off. However he did set those actors up as a kind of human shield for himself when he dubbed his words into their mouths. Maybe he was just short sighted, or maybe he was secretly hoping one of the more actors would get hounded/killed/maimed by his enemies thus "proving his point" as to how evil they are. I don't know I'm just speculating here, but it wouldn't be "out of character" for the nasty little cult he belongs to.

    Parole is a small mercy granted by society, it gives the prisoner a chance to prove to society he has regained some self control over his impulses. It became his parole officers " job to dig this up" the day he was released. In this case the prisoner failed the test in a spectacular fashion, the whole world knows he's been lying and 'defrauding' people, this time with absolutely no regard to his victims personal safety. His parole officer would have to be blind and deaf not to pick up he had broken his conditional freedom. I don't know what US law says about that, but my moral compass says he belongs behind bars. I have the same attitude to a couple of drunks I have been related to for decades, several jail stints ranging from 3mths to 2yrs, without a drop to drink, but they just don't have the self control to last a week on the outside without getting shit-faced to the point where someone they are abusing calls the cops.

    --
    And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
    1. Re:Parole == Conditional freedom by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 1

      You have the timeline ass-backwards... His parole officer would have to be blind and deaf not to pick up he had broken his conditional freedom.

      *Sigh* I wish people would read my posts a little more carefully.

      --

      "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  188. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I still think you've misunderstood me. I do not think that the First Amendment is unfortunate. I think their use is the unfortunate side of the First Amendment, which is true freedom, where despicable people will run along the very edge of hate speech. That does not mean to take anything away, at all. Because to take anything away would lead down a path of taking everything away, which is exactly what the founders foresaw and wanted to prevent. They would not have been for similar speech, and they would have pointed out such speech as something that is protected nonetheless, which is all that I am doing.

  189. I think you need a new dictionary by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1

    Your entire posts proved Muslims are hypocrites.

    Otherwise Islam's fatwahs are merely free speech. Imams calling for the destruction of Israel and the Great Satan are just free speech.

    Name one Muslim, just ONE, who insists Muslims speaking such, should be send to jail.

    Yet how many Muslims call for the death and KILL those who dare use free speech on the subject of Islam?

    Oh wait, I forgot, there is one rule for non-muslims and no rules for Muslims am I right?

    Muslims can do anything they want and everyone else must bow to them. Typical.

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

  190. Let me translate your words by SmallFurryCreature · · Score: 1

    Bedroll finds black people to be abhorrent, he therefor gleefully celebrates when one is beaten to the ground and dragged of in chains for jaywalking or another frivilous offence for which no white person is arrested but for which people Bedroll disagrees with, he expects full and vigorous enforcement.

    --- you are not just a bigot, you are a hypocrit. Lady justice is supposed to be blind. ALL are equal for the law, even people you don't like.

    Have we learned nothing from Larry Flint?

    Defending free speech isn't just about defending the bits you agree with.

    For everyone, a simple test:

    The cast of Monty Python, makers of Life of Brian, a vicious assault on the Christian fate and a slur against this religions most important figure, have confessed on camera to countless small crimes, such as drunk driving and illegal use of narcotics. Should the entire cast have been put in jail for it just because they made a movie that upset a religion? They are real crimes just on a level (rich white guys taking drugs and making a nuisance, rather then black guys) nobody bothers to enforce much. But then they made a movie some disagreed with, so to jail?

    Would you have called such a move a gross miscarriage of justice DESPITE such a case being perfectly sound on pure legal grounds? Yes?

    THEN YOUR ARE A BIGOT.

    People seem to have forgotten (some by the lame excuse of not having actually been born yet when this happened, kids today, always got an excuse) the huge upset that happened when Life of Brian was first released. I am old enough to have gotten some of it although for myself it was the dutch comedy song "Popie Jopie" that was the big one (taking the mickey out of the pope) which was popular when the pope was supposed to come to Holland a move that caused a huge shift among Catholics but also protestants as it forced the daily reality of dwindling religious influence to be realized. The 8 may movement had made it common practice for Catholics in Holland to ignore official doctrine even among those not part of the movement. The visit forced people to make a clear choice, follow the Pope or tell him to take his doctrine and stay the fuck out of dutch business. This was at a time when the use of condoms for birth control and aids was a very hot topic with repeated jokes/rumors off the pope/priests putting holes into condoms. This might sound silly but remember, official Catholic doctrine is that condoms should NOT be used, a priest therefor has no reason to put holes in them, since his flock won't be using them, that he is, means he knows his flock is using them despite them burning in hell for it. Jokes often reveal a great deal about society.

    Anyway, Life of Brian was not banned, its creators not arrested on convenient laws lying about that nobody would normally bother with.

    So why are Muslims treated so differently? Why are so many here suddenly defending the arrest of a person for using an alias online? It is not like when Google forces a real name policy, many here agree with that. But a maker of a movie that upsets Muslims, well, clearly he shouldn't be allowed to use an alias online.

    The Atlanta had a very apolegtic posts about Free Speech, about how Americans just don't understand free speech. He tried to link this movie with things as denying the holocaust and mein kampf (which are forbidden in most of the world BUT not most Islamic nations). But this movie never calls Muslims less human beings, it just calls one of their religious fantasy figures a dickhead. Just as a life of Brian completely took the piss out of Jesus. Remember that Christians still get upset at the suggestion their muppet might have been married (how something that never existed could have been married I don't know, surely in a work of fiction, whatever the author wrote is the truth in that fictional universe), yet such mockumentaries are shown with some regularity. And nobody dies or goes to jail.

    And America protects free speech far further, it allows the KKK, it allows the black p

    --

    MMO Quests are like orgasms:

    You may solo them, I prefer them in a group.

    1. Re:Let me translate your words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      As I recall - The Life of Brian treated Christ quite well, actually, in what few scenes he was in and was more critical of unthinking masses that were relentlessly following Brian, who despite his best efforts could not escape being mistaken for Christ (a figure who was definitively a separate character).

  191. Re:How is it understood as anything but punishment by jrumney · · Score: 1

    You are not allowed to maintain aliases on probation.

    No, he was not allowed to use aliases on probation. Probation conditions are specific to the individual, and linked with the previous offending (fraud in his case).

  192. Check kiting vs. stimulus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How is check kiting any different than the Obama stimulus? They are both spending money that doesn't exist. Shouldn't anyone that voted for or signed the stimulus bill be arrested too?

  193. Now you understand by frovingslosh · · Score: 2, Insightful

    You got it. The followers of the prophet wouldn't be nearly as upset if it was just nonsense that was spouted. They are upset that it was truth that was said. Makes their entire belief system seem a bit silly.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
    1. Re:Now you understand by mgcarley · · Score: 1

      I live among Muslims, in a country with THE single largest Muslim population in the world, and while we didn't see too many riots as a result of this film (though we had some a few weeks ago under different auspices), there were a lot of people who were confused, if not a little on edge because of it, BUT, before you go spouting horseshit about Mohammed, please check your facts.

      All religions that centre around an idol which is inherently fallible (whether Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or whatever) are centred on something that is not perfect. If one is to argue that Mohammed was a pedo or whatever then fine, Jesus hung out with prostitutes and the Hindu god Shiva smoked weed.

      At the end of the day? Who really gives a shit.

      Frankly, the only problem I have with Muslims at the moment is that they don't follow their own spiritual guides (that is, the Q'uran). For a religion whose default greeting is "As Salamu Alaykum" (peace be with you) saying anything about "death to this" and "we hate that" is really un-Islamic - perhaps even to the point where hatred of someone who has wronged you is the opposite of what Islam is all about and those who have reacted this way should not call themselves Muslim nor should they be included by us ignorant westerners as such.

      (That being said, many religious people don't follow their spiritual teachings - Christians, Jews, Hindus - hell, even the Dalai Lama (who as a Buddhist should be strictly vegetarian) eats chicken.

      This whole movie thing is a load of horseshit. I wanted to gouge my own eyes out not because of the content of the film but because of it's complete and utter shittiness. It was one of the stupidest things I've seen in my entire life and if I could charge this guy for the time I spent watching that film, I totally would.

      --
      Founder & COO, Hayai India (hayai.in) / USA (hayaibroadband.com) // t: @mgcarley
    2. Re:Now you understand by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Stop defending your pedophile prophet by pointing out flaw in other people's cult. eg: Try to stay on topic for once. Everyone criticizing Islam will have similar criticism when other violent cults become the current topic. Right now it is Islam that try to impose it's view, therefore it is Islam that need to be mocked until it learn it's place.

      TL;DR - Fuck you.

    3. Re:Now you understand by mgcarley · · Score: 1

      Thanks AC, but I'm not a Muslim. I merely live in an area which has Muslims, Christians and Hindus mixed in with one-another - and I don't belong to either religions.

      I'm all for mocking religion - including Islam - and I'd love it if they could take jokes in the jovial way in which they were intended... however, perhaps they are not ready yet. Imagine if you were mocking Christianity 400 years ago - you'd probably have been hanged for it.

      The point I was trying to make is that all these "Muslims" who are saying "kill the guy because he insulted us" are demonstrably UN-Muslim in their words and actions and if anything, they should want to kill the guy for distributing a movie with such poor production quality. Seriously, where do I apply to get my ~14 minutes back?

      --
      Founder & COO, Hayai India (hayai.in) / USA (hayaibroadband.com) // t: @mgcarley
  194. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    ... no one has ever been killed in prison... and there are no muslims in there.

  195. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Much like Christianity. .. What you say? The Crusades? The Inquisition? TO THE PYRE WITH YOU!

  196. You have no fucking evidence he posted a video. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You have no evidence he even used the Internet. Or do you think that merely financing and directing a movie means he's also cutting his own marketing and uploading it to YouTube?

    Where's the probable cause for such an assertion? No. Even probation officers must have probable cause.

    You're just an Obama apologist. The First Amendment was shoved under the bus to distract from the ramifications of Obama's incompetence and all you can do is make pathetic excuses for the arrest of a movie director that embarrassed the emperor.

  197. Re:How is it understood as anything but punishment by superwiz · · Score: 1

    If that's true, who ordered the arrest? Obama? Why would he do that?

    No. The Ceaser must be above reproach. Also known as "plausible deniability". But there is 0% chance that state department did not put pressure on the local police (now that states and municipalities get a lot of federal money it's easy to apply pressure).

    he local PD felt pressure from the people and local government to arrest the guy for said parole violations.

    There is 0% chance of that. No one gives a damn about parole violations unless the person is actively violent. Exercising free speech is not considered an act of violence, regard of how offensive the speech is.

    --
    Any guest worker system is indistinguishable from indentured servitude.
  198. Muslim Trash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Muslims are all fucking batshit crazy. I am sick of this PC attitude the Obama administration is taking toward this extremist, backwater, uneducated, woman abusing piece of shit religion. I am an atheist personally (I think all religions are moronic), but I don't recall seeing Christians out burning down embassies when some "artist" creates a painting of Jesus taking a shit or whatever the fuck it was. I've never heard of Hindu's or Buddhists rioting. Why is it always the fucking Muslim retards?

    Christianity has its extremists and wackos (Westboro), but the number is so miniscule compared to the Islamic world that Islam should be put in a category all by itself. If I were the PUSA I would give a big fat middle finger to the Islamic world when they "requested" Google take the video down. I would tell them to shove it up their hairy sand-filled Islamic assholes. Even if the price of gas went up to $10, I say fuck it. I would rather deal with that than put out a vibe that we are capitulating to extremist demands. But then again, Obama has always tried to appease wackos and apologize for America everywhere he goes, thus this latest episode isn't surprising.

  199. Way Simpler Than This by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Blah Blah Blah. This situation is far simpler than than all this...

    1. If he violated his parole/probation then he goes back to jail. Delay or not, if you effed up and are on parole then you might get pinched for any violation.
    2. There is no acceptable reason for anyone, anytime to be prosecuted for anything they've said under the First Amendment. Don't give the "cry fire" set of counterarguments, that's not what I'm talking about. Inciting foreign crazies into a frenzy does not constitute "fire in a theater" or "fighting words".
    3. Insane and overly self-important religious fanatics (or people with another agenda who cloak it in religion) will always try to kill off anything they don't like, for whatever available "catalyst". This practice does not legitimize their actions in any way, but more importantly it does not diminish (not even one teensy little bit) our right to catalyze via free speech.

  200. Let's help Islam grow the fuck up by haruchai · · Score: 1

    Is this a religion full of angry teenagers? Constantly overreacting to slights against the precious prophet (who was only one of many)?
    I say some desensitization is in order.

    Let's has a monthly slight against Muhammad that is widely publicized. Not racist insults against Muslims, no comments about towel heads or sand niggers, just humorous cartoons and documentaries about his life that uses the best available info with no pandering to either the Muslim faithful or those opposed to Islam - and not backing down to intimidation.

    Keep this up for a few years - that should (I hope) exhaust all that misplaced fervor.

    --
    Pain is merely failure leaving the body
  201. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Rich0 · · Score: 1

    Yes, he really is being jailed for his actual wrongdoings. You are not allowed to use aliases on probation. He used an alias and did something infamous with it.

    If he committed an actual crime and was arrested and gave an alias to the police, I'd be all for considering that a crime (that should be a crime regardless of probation).

    Using an alias to post a video on a website or youtube shouldn't be considered a crime no matter what some judge might declare. Just because judges can legally get away with this stuff doesn't make it right.

  202. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by amiga3D · · Score: 1

    Only if you're a witch.

  203. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You know "Al Qaeda" just means "Something nasty, somewhere in the world, carried out by some Islamists." They are trying to distract you with that sort of talk. They are trying to deflect blame and embarassment from themselves... for after all, who funded and armed those Islamists? Who backed them in their fight against Gaddaffi? It is rather bad manners of them to kill our official representative in Libya, after we helped them take control, but what are we going to do now? Demand regime change... again? Complain that the "democratic" government does not really represent the people... again? Our only option is to blame the whole thing on some idiot filmmaker and hope nobody engages their brain.

  204. There is something missing in the whole discussion by chthon · · Score: 1

    My take on things is that this film is really made to show something else. 'Innocence' can also be explained as 'naivety'.

    If we see this film, then we most probably react with a facepalm. 'Plan 9 from outer space' probably has more going for it.

    Yet (some) Muslims react violently. These actions come more from naivety than from knowledge.

    For me, it is like this film has been made to show how naive some Muslims are, and that is also what I think that the title stands for.

  205. I'm sure the wars have nothing to do with that by elucido · · Score: 1

    I'm sure their anger is all from that video and has nothing to do with the unmanned drones dropping bombs on their family members in the name of the USA. And now this guy who was outed as being an informant for the FBI makes a film attacking Islam.

    Now the FBI wants to go into Libya and and investigate and the USA acts surprised that the Libyan government and Libyans in general don't want the FBI in their country? Would you want the FBI in your country after this?

    People in the USA are so naive and don't even consider the different perspectives other than their own.

  206. Look At The Big Picture by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Two weeks ago, this guy was picked up by police and "questioned" for eight hours. For what? He made a movie that pissed people off and he was detained for a day.

    Two weeks later, after going through this guy's activities with a fine toothed comb, they come up with a charge that he violated his probation for using a pseudonym when posting on YouTube.

    You cannot seriously believe that, had this movie not caused this upset, the police would have arrested him for using a pseudonym on YouTube. Yes, it is a violation of his parole. But, they would not have even looked at him were it not for wanting to charge him over the movie.

  207. Pick a better hero of Free Speech by elucido · · Score: 1

    On one hand, they got the guy who broke he law, that's a win. But on the other, it makes it look like he's being jailed for expressing his opinion about something controversial. That's a not a win, that's a loss.

    Who cares how it looks? He's still a scumbag. His video was trash and hurt the USA. He's not a hero of free speech any more than George Zimmerman is a hero of the first amendment. If you believe in these principles as I do, then lets find some better heroes than this. Don't you think it's a bigger concern that Julian Assange is now an enemy of the State for publishing classified information?

    I think that is a far bigger concern than this peon FBI informant Film Maker who committed bank fraud and who accomplished nothing positive or useful with his video beyond pissing people off and getting people killed.

  208. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anguirel · · Score: 1

    Freedom of speech does not cover shouting fire in a crowded theatre.
    Freedom of speech does not cover incitement to violence.

    Oddly enough, falsely shouting fire in a crowded theater is from a court case about inciting peace (voicing opposition to a military draft) not being covered as free speech.

    --
    ~Anguirel (lit. Living Star-Iron)
    QA: The art of telling someone that their baby is ugly without getting punched.
  209. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Shadowkahn · · Score: 1

    Generally, yes. If you're on probation, it means even the slightest screwup gets you arrested and hauled before a judge to potentially be tossed back in prison.
    Lying to your parole officer is a really good way to go back to jail.

  210. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by stoatwblr · · Score: 1

    Just call it the outside of the asylum.

  211. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    And I'm sure Xevioso is your real name.

  212. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by sribe · · Score: 1

    Is he really being locked up for violating his probation, or is that just a justification to arrest someone for saying something inconvenient? Supposedly he as arrested for making false statements to his probation officer. Is that something that a normal person would be jailed for?

    Duh. A normal person does not make any statements whatsoever to a probation officer, because a normal person is not on probation. He's been convicted of serious crimes, and is only out of prison subject to strict conditions on his behavior.

    He is not allowed to use the internet at all without specific permission, precisely because of his established history of using it in criminal activity. So yeah, he can go back to jail for doing something on the internet which would be well within the rights of a normal person.

  213. Re:Selective Prosecution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Fuck you, islamic murder-apologist. Attempting to link this guy to a sex crime is a blatant and obvious smear tactic.

    His parol violations are not at all on the level of a sex crime: they are on the level of illegal immigration. In comparison to illegal immigration, we have sanctuary cities whereby local governments, en masse, defiantly refuse to enforce laws against pretending to be someone you aren't -- when it comes to Mexicans. But this guy is obviously not a member of the privileged Mexican class of criminals -- and so he must be punished most severely.

    The hypocracy of the Obama regime is as blindingly obvious as your smear campaign, creep.

  214. IS WIFE BEATING A RELIGION? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you had a group of men living next door to you who were beating up women, forcing them to make babies for Duulah, stay at home, no chance for a career or even go outside, and these men were making bombs so they could blow up people down at the market, wouldn't it be a good idea to take them on? Why would you just let them fire rockets into your communities? So they claim that wife beating is their religion. Does that make it a real religion? They want to take over the world, force everyone to bob their head at their religious books for hours on end, is that really a good thing? Especially when you're trying to be creative, using our artistic mediums like painting, dancing, writing, comedy, etc. to worship the Creative Almighty in a constructive, inspiring way. Your way, but they are going to force you to worship in a primitive, violent way. Don't be so cowardly,and please support people who are trying to fight primitive violent men. The Democrats are so corrupt they don't want to fight this, they just want to rip off working people. On Jan. 1 your taxes are going up $3,000. Do you have that money? The following year, Obamacare kicks in and your company may dump the insurance plan so that you'll have to come up with the entire $8,000 or Health care insurance. This is so that sickos can get endless, marginally effective treatments for the rest of their unhealthy life. Don't be so apathetic... fight for what's right. Castrati end up being good slaves. mensunion org

  215. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by kelemvor4 · · Score: 1

    If you jail people for lying then we have to put all of Congress in jail.

    You say that, but I'm sure that there are downsides as well.

    The only downside I see is that it wouldn't include the rest of our politicians.

  216. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by kelemvor4 · · Score: 1

    "Islam" more closely translates to "[peace] through submission".

    So, it's the religion of choice for the S&M community?

  217. reality check needed. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    1. He's not a 'film maker', he's a criminal. Hence the conviction.
    2. He's very unlucky. Unlucky to have released his non-film about the same time certain politico's were looking for 'another' excuse to roll out the masses.
    3. If you throw crap into the fan of someone more powerful. Expect repercussions as the powerful do not like insignificant idiots jacking with any part of their domain.

    He's been re-incarcerated because of point #1 above. This serves the administrations plans as they don't want him making any more statements about anything. An alternative look at this specifically might conclude he has been placed in protective custody for the good of all.

    He could have been bounced through a fast tracked deportation hearing and either have his residency revoked on grounds of moral turpitude.

  218. Exactly how was his video "wrong" in any way? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I'd like to hear one thing from his video that wasn't true. Just one. That's why they a flipping out. Islam is a cult, and Mohammed was a pedophile and mass murderer. You know why they are off limits? Oil money. Someone needed to say it.

  219. Re:Good times! Clearly, he's a dirtbag by shentino · · Score: 1

    Simple.

    Would he have been arrested for the probation violation without pressure from the feds?