“John Doe” updates, and, “Hall of Shame”, Media category.

News from the Washington Times that the notorious “flying imams” have formally dropped charges against all potential “John Doe” defendants in the federal lawsuit. They are still pressing ahead against the airline, and airport workers.

Meanwhile, a call from the FBI for assitance from the public (i.e., John/Jane Does) in Seattle meets with unbelievable irresponsibility from the local newspaper. After multiple reports from passengers and ferry workers regarding possibly suspicious behavior by two individuals, law enforcement and counterterrorism officials thought it prudent to ask these guys some questions, clear things up one way or the other. Might be innocent, might not. If you were one of the thousands of commuters on the ferry system, don’t you think you’d want them to at least ask?

And the respose from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer? Won’t cooperate, won’t publish the pictures.

“We have no confirmation that these men’s behavior was anything but innocuous, and to forever taint them by associating them with terrorism under these circumstances is not consistent with our policy,” said David McCumber, P-I managing editor.

Neither do you have any confirmation otherwise, Mr. McCumber. But a few answers to a few questions could quickly clear that up. And lest you’re inclined to reflexively fear that this could just be some paranoid witchhunt, a slip down the slope to empowering the Feds to pick up anyone, anytime, anywhere on any pretext, read the article first; same individuals, multiple sightings by multiple individuals both commuters and employees of the ferry system. Read, too, the 2004 Seattle Times article on the threat to the ferry system.

Ironic that the effect of their refusal to publish the photos of the two specific individuals, while reporting on their apparent ethnic background (take a wild guess) will have the effect of placing every young male of that group in Seattle under suspicion. Way to go!

Adding stupidity to irresposibility, they then decided to respond with … a haiku contest! I kid you not. How droll, how chichi, tres amusant, ne c’est pas? They apparently received a considerable volume of negative response, and next day admited that a haiku contest just MIGHT have been a tad inappropriate. “Ya think?”

Lord, have mercy!