New at Reason

David Weigel | August 17, 2006

The ever-fashion-conscious Kerry Howley unveils the government's hot new line of anti-terrorism, "civil liber-what now?" powers.

Comments

|8.17.06 @ 11:58AM|#

Ultimately, the worst damage that the terrorists do to us may be in providing an excuse for governments to destroy our liberties.

Paul|8.17.06 @ 2:39PM|#

Hey, scenario appropos of our increasingly hard line stances in the WoT:

Top Al Qaeda advisor to Bin Laden: We may be creating a thousand new George W. Bush's

Or at least I wonder if Al Qaeda ever has this concern when they plot their next terrorist attack. In fact, I wonder if radical Islam, or even moderate Islam frets over this possibility. I tend to think that Islamists- especially the radical elements aren't particularly introspective about their role in the world.

I think that it's a perfectly normal and valid question to ask. Are there elements of our political class being radicalized by the actions of radical Islam? Will our Middle East or even domestic policies become more hard-line, more militaristic by the continued actions of Islamic terrorists?

Oh, and I'll give you guys $5 if you fix your server. Think about it, a crisp, brand new finsky can be yours if you fix the dang thing.

|8.18.06 @ 5:44AM|#

Well, Howley-Baby, the Brits have had that "infamous" Official Secrets Act since, like, World War One, some 90 years now, and as everybody knows their gaols are not exactly running over with whistle-blowers in orange jumpsuits, to say nothing of their muted and gagged editors, quaking in their shoes when Her Majesty's Government is brandishing the OSA cudgel.

Apparently the Brits were pretty much able to maintain democracy and secrecy simultaneously, something that Americans can't be trusted to achieve, in your opinion at least.

Now that's something I'd call "the bigotry of low expectations".