Timehost says, "Welcome to the Time forum! Tonight our chat is on trial of Ted Kaczynski, the man suspected of being the Unabomber, the anti-technology terrorist who killed 3 people and injured 23 in a reign of terror that lasted 17 years. Our guest is Time correspondent David Jackson, who's covering the Unabomber trial for the magazine. Welcome."
David_Jackson says, "Thank you."
Timehost says, "David, given the mound of evidence that the prosecution managed to unearth at Ted Kaczynski's cabin in Montana, does the defense stand a chance in this trial?"
David_Jackson says, "As one defense attorney, not associated with this case, told me, "This is a terrible case to try to defend." The primary aim of his defense attorneys will be to save his life, and I think most attorneys would consider it a victory if they can do that. The evidence showing his guilt seems to be overwhelming."
Timehost says, "All right, let's take a question from the audience."
Timehost presents question #288 from Mactheknife:
David, what's the chance that this trial, especially if there's a death penalty against Kaczynski, will turn the Unabomber into a folk hero?
David_Jackson says, "There doesn't seem to be much chance of that. The main reason is that his manifesto, and later his arrest, did not turn him into a folk hero except maybe to some isolated web sites which have always struck me more as tongue in cheek than anything else. The revolt against our "industrial-technological society" which the Unabomber urged, does not seem to have caught on. I should also add, that this is not starting out as a trial where crowds of supporters are gathered outside. The only people gathered outside are reporters who couldn't get seats in the courtroom."
Timehost says, "Dave, what's the mood in the courtroom right now? How does Kaczynski look?"
David_Jackson says, "Kaczynski looked very attentive today. He watched the proceedings carefully and occasionally jotted notes on a legal pad and passed them to his attorneys sitting next to him, to read. There were a few light moments in the trial too. And he smiled along with everyone else, when they occurred. For example, one prospective juror said he did not follow the news too closely because "it's depressing. Kaczynski smiled at that."
Timehost presents the speakers with question #293 from Wibbs:
Do you think Kaczynski really cares whether he lives or dies? Is there anything human about this man?
David_Jackson says, "Yes, I do think he cares. We all have to keep in mind that he is presumed innocent at this stage. And he deserves a fair trial. It's impossible for anyone to know what's going on in his mind, which his attorneys say is afflicted with mental illness. That, however, remains to be seen."
Timehost presents question #304 from Woods_time:
I've seen many people who say they don't think Kaczynski would approve of an insanity defense, because of his political beliefs. What do you think?
David_Jackson says, "A better question might be, "If he was truly mentally ill, would he approve of an insanity defense?" And, as it turns out, one characteristic diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenics is that they tend to resist descriptions of them as mentally ill. As for his political beliefs, if you believe he wrote the manifesto, it seemed to accept treatment of mentally disturbed people but it came out strongly against manipulation of people's behavior."
Timehost says, "We have one viewer who wonders about what influence his early years had on his psychological development..."
Timehost presents question #294 from Wibbs:
What do you know about Kaczynski's family life? I've read that he hated them like sin. If he is the Unabomber, could they have done anything to prevent these bombings? Why was he never taken for psychological treatment as a child?
David_Jackson says, "Knowledge of his family life is limited to anecdotal comments from him and his family. They have said his behavior was unusual as a child, and more bizarre as he grew up. But apparently, in their view, it was not bizarre enough to cause them to try to hospitalize him. And, of course, there is no indication they knew of any illegal behavior by him before his arrest. That is, until his brother contacted the FBI. As for Ted's view, some of his letters have been extremely critical of his family, but they are so extreme that we may see the defense use them as proof of his mental illness."
Timehost says, "Are such emotions common among paranoid schizophrenics? What do the letters say?"
David_Jackson says, "Paranoid schizophrenia is generally characterized by delusions and frequently auditory hallucinations (or voices).In talking to psychiatrists, however, I learned that this diagnosis can describe a wide range of aberrant behavior. His particular letters range from praise for his family to indignant demands that they severe all ties with him because of their past treatment of him. It's very common, I should add, for paranoid schizophrenic people to blame others for their problems."
Timehost says, "Dave, we have several viewers who are wondering about Kaczynski's political views, and what role they played in the bombings..."
Timehost presents question #291 from Mactheknife:
Do the Unabomber bombings, in your mind, say anything about how we as a society view the 20th century's technological revolution? Why do you think the Unabomber has so many fans on the Internet?
David_Jackson says, "I don't think the Unabomber's bombs reflect the views of any sane people about our society. We expect to hear evidence in this trial that Kaczynski tried to provoke a revolt against our industrial society by bombing such targets as a computer scientist at Yale, a timber industry lobbyist in California, a geneticist, a computer store owner, and others. What sane person would think such acts would make sense? As for the Unabomber's "fans", as a person who spends a lot of time on the Net, I learned long ago not to confuse a few sites on the Internet with the idea that they represent huge numbers of people. Even if there were fifty or 100 people who were attracted to Kaczynksi's ideas, that's still a minuscule group. The Net, as we all know, has always been a great place for irreverence and independence, and that's one of it's greatest appeals. But there are also a few kooks out there too."
Timehost presents question #308 from Velikaya_vera:
Then why is anybody interested in this trial if he doesn't represent any sort of opinion? Is it the mystery behind the Unabomber?
David_Jackson says, "I think people are interested in this trial because this man is accused of being the person who killed three people, injured 23 more, and carried out a campaign of terror for 18 years by mailing anonymous bombs. He also forced the Washington Post and New York Times to print his manifesto, and he threw a real pall over fourth of July air travel for a lot of people who flew into our out of Los Angeles International airport a couple of years ago (including me) when he threatened to blow up a plane there during the holiday."
Timehost presents question #306 from Velikaya_vera:
Do you think the defense will put Kaczynski on the witness stand? What effect do you think the sight of his brother testifying against him will have?
David_Jackson says, "I would be surprised if Ted Kaczynski testified. Defense attorneys usually avoid putting their clients on the stand because there are far more risks to that than advantages. But who knows? Kaczynski could insist on it, and it may be that his appearance could help make his case that he is deranged. As for his brother David, it will surely be poignant to see him testify in this trial given the difficult decision he made to turn in his brother. But no one knows what Ted's reaction is going to be."
Timehost presents question #301 from Highroad:
Isn't it hard to argue that someone with a genius IQ of 170 has diminished capacity?
David_Jackson says, "No, not at all. There is no correlation between intelligence and sanity. His "diminished capacity" would refer to his mental ability to form intent required by law to be found guilty of this crime. It does not refer to his intellectual capacity. His attorneys want to argue that his mental disease affected his ability to form intent."
Timehost presents question #299 from Highroad:
How did Kaczynski allegedly choose his victims?
David_Jackson says, "Prosecutors have not said yet how they believed he chose his victims. From a few documents, it seems that some may have been more or less random and others individually targeted."
Timehost says, "We have time for just a few more questions...."
Timehost says, "Several viewers are wondering how the judge will conduct this case given that he's never had a death penalty case before him. Any signs yet?"
David_Jackson says, "Presumably every judge presiding over criminal cases has a first death penalty case at some point, so Judge Burrell will have plenty precedents to follow. So far, this judge has been very cautious in his rulings and he seems to be bending over backwards to do it right. But he does not seem to be the kind of judge who will speed things along."
Timehost says, "Is it true that jurors will be asked not to look at the Internet? Why was that decision made, if so?"
David_Jackson says, "Yes, actually, the judge specifically asked them this afternoon not to read about the case on the Internet, in addition to the other places, such as newspapers, radio and television, where news of the case could be found. This was the first time I had heard this admonition in a federal trial. This doesn't mean there's any special danger on the Net, only that it has now become a good place to find news and commentary. I think every day that the Internet becomes a little more viable as an information source, although, as always, the veracity of what you find there varies widely."
Timehost presents question #300 from Velikaya_vera:
David, does the FBI have the right man here?
David_Jackson says, "Well, we have to admit, there have not been any Unabombs since Ted Kaczynski was arrested. But, in covering the trial I am trying to keep my mind open to arguments from both sides."
Timehost says, "Thank you, David, for joining us tonight and sharing your insight into the trial. I'm afraid we'll have to close here for tonight."
David_Jackson says, "Thanks, glad to be here."
Timehost says, "And for our viewers, please feel free to chat among yourselves. Goodnight!"
