Via citizen editor Assad Abdi: Today at 8:39am Have Australian Anti-Terrorism Laws failed? The New York Times think they have and can only do so much short of turning Western democracies into police states Todays edition- Dec 16, 2014: In Sydney Hostage Siege, Australia’s New Anti-Terrorism Measures Proved Ineffective The laws, which passed the Australian Parliament with wide support, made it an offense to advocate terrorism, even on social media; banned Australians from going to fight overseas; allowed the authorities to confiscate and cancel passports; and provided for the sharing of information between security services and defense personnel. The government also deployed hundreds of police officers in counterterrorism sweeps across the country. But experts say counterterrorism laws can only do so much short of turning Western democracies into police states. “The real problem is not a legal issue, or something the new laws can fix but marginalized and radicalized people who may in fact not be breaking counterterrorism laws before they commit an act like last night’s siege in Sydney,” said Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. nytimes/…/sydney-australia-hostages-anti-ter…
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 03:34:01 +0000