New Yorker on trial for possession of terrorist rain gear

Now, let’s see. A May 26 AP account by Larry McShane on the case of Syed Hashmi, a 27-year-old Pakistan-born US citizen and former Queens resident extradited from England back to New York to face terrorism charges, says he is accused of providing “military gear” to al-Qaeda in Pakistan. A June 1 AP account by David Caruso informs us that this “military gear” was rain gear—”waterproof socks and rain coats.” And all he did was allow a friend to keep them in his London apartment. Are we the only ones who feel these “terrorism” cases are becoming alarmingly specious?