Peer to Condemn 'Fear Factor' Response to 9/11

[cal04]

Liberal Democrat peer Shirley Williams is expected to criticise the West’s reaction to the September 11 terrorist atrocities in a lecture to top barristers, it emerged today.

In the Bar Council lecture, she will say the essential structures of a free society, democracy and the rule of law have been damaged by its response to the emergence of groups like al Qaida.

Baroness Williams, a former Labour Cabinet minister, is expected to talk specifically about the reaction of the British and US governments, arguing that the West has been driven by fear and incomprehension. She will criticise the Patriot Act, passed in the US shortly after the attacks on the Twin Towers, and the detention of terrorist suspects without trial.

The former leader of the Liberal Democrats in the Lords will also argue that terrorism cannot be countered by the erosion of civil liberties or by bending the rule of law. Only by recognising the need to construct a more equitable and just global society can the terrorist threat be countered, she tells the council.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3723344

[htuttle]

1. The egotism of the West will not allow it to change it's behavior...

...in response to any outside stimulus. This goes double for the US.

Therefore, all ignorant, thick-headed methods based on increasingly severe applications of force (ie., killing lots of people) need to be tried, exhausted, and found wanting before the West will even consider changing the way it acts itself. Then it might be years of arguing before it finally does.

I believe that Osama bin Laden knows this, and is why he believes that he will ultimately destroy the West -- by tricking it into destroying itself. He doesn't really even have to do any work anymore (only occasionally popping up in a video when he wants to gives things a little push). It's now a self-perpetuating phenomenon.

[MasonJar]

2. Do NOT count all the West in the US debacle. Many are not

culpable.

[htuttle]

4. Very true

I said 'the West' instead of 'the US', since it seems as if there are more countries involved in this. On reflection, however, most of the rest of them got involved due to the pressure or enticement from the US.

[Lostnote03]

3. HT.....

...."increasingly severe....".....sums it up!.....provocative post , thanks.....Are we allowing BinLaden to remain(live) not only for political reappearance value but also to make him a larger Martyr image to escalate at a later date....Bring out the Big guns,nuke em all....