Nice use of sneer quotes by the BBC in the lead.

The antique Roman spirit lives. May he rest in peace.

I expect Orianna Fallaci to have a fire-breathing column appear in the next few days...

His heroism in death immediately brought Nathan Hale to my mind. It took great courage on his part to defy his killers. And no wonder AJ didn't show the tape. I hope this story inspires the Italians. And Brian, I hope you are right about Fallaci. That ailing old woman has more balls than most public figures.

Why do we put up with Al Jaz, anyway?

Freedom of speech?

I can only conclude that it's in the interests of the west to have the Arab world, the Islamic world, and all who support them believe the lies that are spun and spewed by Al-Jazeerah and like-minded media organs.

Unfortunately so.

But just as it was ultimately in the interest of the west to have Pravda continually twist and distort and Goebbels contrive and contort, so we will have to put up with these "viewpoints," these "perspectives."

By their lies shall ye know them. And by their lies will they collapse and fall.

Ali - what does the First Amendment have to do with a foreign news network? Is everybody in the world entitled to all the rights of the U.S. Constitution now?

The Constitution doesn't give us rights. They're already ours. The Constitution formally tells Congress to keep their hands off.

Brain cramp - should have written "Bill of Rights" instead of "U.S. Constitution".

In any event, I'd argue Biran's point; somebody had to write them down and declare them, even if they were self-evident. In the 1700's, it surely was not the case that such rights were a normal and accepted government limitation.

Jeff:

Read Federalist 84. Hamilton argues that a Bill of Rights is unnecessary and in fact dangerous because of course Congress cannot regulate the press, speech, etc. Listing certain rights only serves to imply that those not listed do not exist.