he decided to write about the incident ...

the discrepancies between the previous version in the newspaper and this are VERY concerning ... and, no, I don't think either version is either "complete" or "entirely truthful"

I think his shame over ths incident is part of why he didn't reach out to, say, his agent or publisher for help, character references, etc, and likely why the newspaper version is as it is.

I have little doubt that he was, in fact, traumatized by events but trauma also involves some denial ... I think he may have returned to prison to "get himself together" feeling unprepared to walk out of courthouse into the "real world" just then...

Other than that, I try to take Salon's bizarre (and often much worse than this) essays at face value ... as I said in my first post on this subject, I think it is a worthwhile cautionary tale ... and I think many letter writers are in denial at how easily it could have them them or someone they know.

People have been incarcerated for bad behavior on planes attributable to illness, mental and otherwise, drug reactions, Tourettes, language difficulties ... and I've known a few people with anger management issues in my life.

I always thought that most of these incidents resulted either in medical care or brief "holding cell" type incarcerations while things got "straightened out" ...

I'm sorry also to learn that Britain has the same stupid problems we have with incarcerating nonviolent drug offenders resulting in not only overcrowding (which must be hard of staff and resources as well) but "hardening" of criminals and creation of a true "criminal class", that is the making of criminals out of what were once youthful offenders. I was glad to hear they were addressing illiteracy, however ineptly.

I suspect Kurth thought of his pupil as his "friend" and possible ally somehow ... when I suspect the pupil thought no such thing ...

part of the equation here is that it cost a lot of money to prosecutre and then incarcerate as opposed to diversion, detox, probation and/or community service ...

I keep hearing people INSISTING that since Peter Kurth did a bad thing ... (though the idea of an obnoxious drunk holding a planeful of cowering passengers "hostage" is a bit of stretch to me anyway, one might hope airline personnel are well trained in managing the obnoxious, but whatever) ... HE DESERVES TO BE PUNISHED ...

Well, fine ... punish him, fine him, make him do community service, make him take sensitivity training classes up the yahoo ... but exactly what is to be accomplished by spending a small fortune incarcerating him and prosecuting him for being an obnoxious boor ...

one of the arguements against incarcerating many these folks (and giving them a prison record making getting a legitimate job even harder), is that the money is ENORMOUS and could be more effectively spent remedially on something that might actually pay dividends in the future.

I'm all for a night in the drunk tank and a fine ... hell, give him ankle bracelet .. make him write a repentant essay ... but incarceration for being a jerk, imho, is disproportionate.

They're ability to reappraise and change course in any meaningful way appears defective ...

Suggest they are "running out the clock" and they act offended, and yet, it's that old definition of insanity being doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results ... lipstick on a pig ...

I suspect Cheney went over to talk some sense into Petraeus and/or to received (and/or fabricate) some "from the horse's mouth" new intel from the new "boss" with which to sooth Republican brows ....

Bush/Cheney have given "cannon fodder" a whole new meaning ...

exclusives to Fox News, a few print interviews, and, of course, the Sunday shows ... not to mention, special rethug confabs meet-and-gree and press the flesh of the faithful.

For the "faithful", Big Daddy's voice and reassurances is the best medicine around ... after all they voted for Cheney and not Bush from the start ...

I wonder if Tony Blair's announcement will contain any sissy "regrets" ...