A Muslim and ex-Marine named Yonathan Melaku has been convicted to 25 years after pleading guilty to firing shots at the Pentagon, the Marine Corps museum, and other military targets. In large part, what did him in, was the fact that he filmed himself on the night he drove around he Wasington, DC area. The video showed him shouting “Allah-hu-Akbar” as he was shooting at the museum.

Yet, in the ABC News / AP story that reported on Melaku’s plea, there was not one use of the word, “Islam” or “Muslim” in the story while using the word “Jihad” once (in quotes). They couldn’t even bring themselves to print how “God is Great” sounds in Arabic, just that it was said in Arabic.

Prosecutors also released a video, made by Melaku, that was part of the evidence in the case, in which Melaku is seen firing shots at the National Museum of the Marine Corps as he drives by from I-95, where the museum is easily visible. In the video, Melaku shouts “God is Great!” in Arabic and talks about targeting the museum and “turning it off permanently.”

The best part? Melaku’s defense attorney takes advantage of the apparent unwillingness of people to speak the truth.

The defense lawyer, Gregory English, said he has no doubt that his client is legally sane, but said a proper mental-health diagnosis may help his client become a better person while he serves his sentence.

English, himself a former Marine, said after the hearing that his personal experience suggests it’s possible that some sort of post-traumatic stress or dispute with the Marines may have triggered Melaku’s actions rather than any desire to support al-Qaida or the Taliban.

Jihadists don’t typically respond to mental-health prescriptions all that well.

Westerners are one step closer to coming face to face with their own absurdity. Living in denial definitely has a finite lifespan and the media is twisting itself into pretzels trying to extend it.

In the words of Blaise Pascal:

Looking ridiculous is apparently still preferred over being honest.

h/t Bare Naked Islam