Decision to Mirandize Christmas Day Bomber:  Los Angeles Times writers Richard A. Serrano and David G. Savage report that officials thoroughly discussed whether to Mirandize Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab after his attempt to bomb Northwest Flight 253.  An anonymous government source stated that Abdulmutallab was questioned by two sets of FBI agents before receiving Miranda warnings.  The Director of National Intelligence, Dennis C. Blair, stated before Congress that the decision was "made by the FBI team agent in charge on the scene, consulting with his headquarters and Department of Justice."  He called the decision a mistake. According to the reporters' sources, however, the decision on whether or not to advise Abdulmutallab of his rights involved at least four government agencies, and was discussed in a series of teleconferences.  An administration official, speaking anonymously, stated that their was no deviation from the treatment that Abdulmutallab received than other terror suspects on American soil since Sept. 11th. 

Charles Krauthammer had a different view of the case in this column in the WaPo Friday.


Trial by Ordeal. In the Boston Globe, Peter Leeson makes the case that medieval trials by ordeal actually worked when people believed in them strongly enough.