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Time for reflection, not retribution, against the Craigslist killer

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Time for reflection, not retribution, against the Craigslist killer

POSTED: Tuesday, April 21, 2009, 8:31 PM

As you might have heard, this good-looking 22-year-old medical student from Boston University, Philip Markoff, was arrested today and charged as the so-called "Craigslist killer". He stands accused of murder, armed robbery and kidnapping of women selling erotic services through the popular Internet site. In the most brutal case prosecutors allege that "he sought to rob a masseuse, but bashed her in the head and shot her through the heart when she fought back."

Look, this Internet crime spree was clearly a dark and painful period in history. But the damage has already been done. Nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past. Prosecuting Philip Markoff won't bring back Julissa Brisman -- and frankly it is a waste of our time and energy. We face important challenges ahead in policing predators on the Internet and preventing future violence against women. Now is the time for reflection, not retribution.

Will Bunch @ 8:31 PM Permalink | 23 comments

23 comments

Comments (23)

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:26 AM, 04/22/2009

Bohica -- HAHAHAHA!!! Nice one. Will, even a liberal like you can see the differences in this situation. The Craig's list killer (who is currently presumed INNOCENT), is an American citizen standing accused of committing crimes against American citizens IN America. The interrogation folks stand accused of nothing (at present). If and when there is a comprehensive (spelled partisan) investigation done, what you will realize, is that the people who conducted the investigations were following the law. The people who wrote the memos and instructions can't be accused of anything other then poor judgment or misinterpreting the Constitution. Who, then, do you accuse of criminal behavior?? If people died as a result of actions taken against them while they were prisoners in Cuba, what charges can be leveled? The injured party (dead, actually) is not an American citizen, and the criminal behavior did not occur in America. Our police can't arrest someone for stabbing someone in London, though they can cooperate with International police forces to detain and return the person to England to face trial. Who do we detain here, and where should the trial take place??? This is just one of many reasons why it's better to turn the page and move on. I would support a thorough investigation that details everything that was done, what processes created the memos, how that was interpreted into action, and what intelligence it revealed so that America can learn from this. Did those techniques gather valuable intelligence? What techniques should never be used again? What review process do we need in place to ensure that only effective techniques are used?

— IggleFan68

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:14 AM, 04/22/2009

IggleFan68 - This doesn't cover all of your points, but it opened my eyes to some questionable practices in the war on terror. After I viewed it, I formed the opinion that the US committed torture under the guise of "harsh interrogation" and our civil liberties were imperiled in the name of "national security." ••• http://www.torturingdemocracy.org/

— Phrossty

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:32 AM, 04/22/2009

The rule of law should stand, but what is to be gained by pursuing prosecution? In the case of Craig's List killer, it would be justice and punishment for an obvious crime. Good luck finding the obvious crime in the "harsh interrogation" investigation. At every turn, the VP et alia used the justice department to ensure that the techniques were "perfectly legal -- not a war criminal" (to quote Dana Carvey's Bush I). There are other "Pandora's Box" considerations as well.

— Phrossty

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:46 PM, 04/22/2009

Time for reflection not retribution ? HUH ? , This scumbag killed an woman in cold blood . If it had been your sister , or daughter would you still type this BS ? , if he's guilty he should die , eye for an eye , life for a life .

— PAEnglish

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0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:48 PM, 04/22/2009

I don't see where torturing enemy prisoners (which I am dead set against) has anything to do with this slimebag. Put him on trial and if found guilty prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, including execution. I believe that the torturers (and those that condoned and ordered it)should be prosecuted too but the evidence should be a lot harder to prove. I don't expect it to happen.

— James TL

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Will Bunch, a senior writer at the Philadelphia Daily News, blogs about his obsessions, including national and local politics and world affairs, the media, pop music, the Philadelphia Phillies, soccer and other sports, not necessarily in that order.

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