George Brown on United States v. Mehanna

The United States' case against Tarek Mehanna is going to trial in Boston today.  Mehanna is charged with violating the Material Support Statute.  Among other things, that statute makes criminal the provision of services or personnel (including oneself) to designated terrorist organizations.  Mehanna is charged with a number of acts, including providing service to Al-Qaeda by his self-proclaimed status as Al-Qaeda's "media wing."  This case has prompted my friend and former colleague, George Brown, the Drinan Professor at Boston College Law School to write this op-ed piece on the case.  It's worth a full read.  For some news articles on the case, click here and here.