But as one European Union diplomat remarked to me: "This trial is about political intimidation, not about fraud.
But this was about intimidation as well as speech.
He said, "Negotiations must be done to find a solution for most of the country, not just the red shirts," adding, "I never reject a political solution, but a political solution must not create a precedent that intimidation will bring about social change".
James Hildreth, dean of the college of biological sciences at the University of California, Davis, says that at historically black universities, there's already "an intimidation factor" about submitting research proposals to NIH. "Many have the presumption that it won't be evaluated objectively or fairly".
"This looks like it's much more about intimidation and coercion than about criminal conduct," Mr. Romero said.
But a second lesson, he said, was that the conflict "was not only about the claims of intimidation, but also about the actual debate over the Middle East".
British officials have hinted that there are other candidates for defection in Tripoli but admit to serious concerns about intimidation by the regime and especially worries about retaliation against family members who are left behind.
"There is a climate of intimidation, not just about talking to reporters, but also about communicating with colleagues," said one official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"We're concerned that True the Vote is not about election integrity but instead is about intimidation, and instead of empowering voters, they will be attempting to scare voters," she said.
The aesthetic ideals couldn't be more different: jazz is about subtlety and, one wants to say, beauty; metal is about intimidation, alienation and assault.
