As true in the US as it is in Australia:
Kevin Andrews also says that critics are soft on terrorism. And here’s the nub of the matter. We aren’t soft on terrorism – that is a (excuse my French) fucking stupid thing to say. Does Andrews really believe we critics want a bombing in Sydney? We aren’t soft on terrorism, we are hard on rights. If he had evidence of Haneef’s involvement in a plot, then why was it not brought out in court? It need not have been open court if there were security issues. In camera proceedings are permitted under special circumstances, and if public knowledge of the details of an investigation might jeopardise it or people, that is a reason to hold them.
More background here and here.
If we cannot protect ourselves within the legal structures we have set up with which to govern our society, then our society is fatally flawed and deserves to fall. Either we act within the ideals that we have proclaimed for centuries, or we admit openly that we are discarding those ideals and allow the government to go to any extremes, to violate any principles, just to protect our sorry asses.
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