Thiessen claims that the John Adams comparison is bogus because the Boston Massacre soldiers "were Adams’ fellow countrymen - not foreign enemies of the state at war with his country." Were Jose Padilla and John Walker Lindh not fellow-countrymen? Was Padilla not seized on American soil at O'Hare airport?



Matt Corley goes in for the kill:

Yesterday, Perino and Burck published an article on National Review Online detailing how Holder contributed to, but neglected to tell the Senate about, an amicus brief to the Supreme Court supporting Jose Padilla, an American citizen who was held as an enemy combatant. Another one of the lawyers smeared by the ad, Joseph Guerra, now Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General, worked on a brief urging that the Supreme Court hear Padilla’s case. Another DoJ lawyer, Assistant Attorney General Tony West, worked on the case of “American Taliban” Johh Walker Lindh, an American citizen.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.