Justice system whacks Whitey, lets FBI walk

The Whitey Bulger trial has concluded, with the 83 year old Bulger looking at spending the rest of his life behind bars.

I'm guessing that's not nearly as devastating a verdict at 83 as it might have been at 23.

Anyone applauding this verdict should at the same time ask themselves how long Whitey's life 'o crime might have lasted had the FBI been actively working to fight crime instead of facilitating it.

Just one more question mark in the checkered history of crime fighting in the USA.

The theater of American justice

Oh look, no sooner is Trayvon off the front page (everywhere except CNN) than we've got a new scapegoat!

Yup, 83 year old Whitey Bulger has caused the demise of one of the folks about to testify for the prosecution.

I'm sure Whitey was a nasty enough piece of work in his day, but for Christ's sake, the man is 83 years old and he commands absolutely nothing. Is it time to give it a rest?

This is right next to those farcical trials where some senile 98 year old Ukrainian guy finally gets caught for having been a teenage guard at a Nazi death camp when he was 16 years old.

I'm not defending Bulger and I'm certainly not defending Nazis, but when you look at the particulars, is it not possible that cash-strapped America should be considering other priorities?

When these alleged perpetrators are in their 80's and 90's, is there any serious person who believes there is anything to be gained by employing the full weight of the state against them?

These prosecutions run into the millions of dollars.

These 80 and 90 year-olds are extremely unlikely to re-offend.

Let's leave them alone and get on with more realistic priorities.