The ABC miniseries “The Path to 9/11” that puts a lot of blame on Madeline Albright and Sandy Berger, but doesn’t make ole Condi look too good either. The Dems are all upset over it, but it doesn’t seem all that outrageous to me. Mainly it makes the point that guerrilla fighters will always have an advantage over big ole lumbering governments, which is why terrorism works.
Countries that have successfully defended against terrorism, such as the UK with its Irish problem, have modified civil liberties laws to prevent terror cells from hiding behind them. That’s just part of the deal, boys and girls, so we may as well accept it. The Constitution is not a suicide pact, you know?
Gerry Conlon might have a little something to say about “modified” civil liberties protections used by the UK in their battle with the IRA. And from what I can see, the terrorism from the UK’s “Irish problem” ceased when the Brits started taking the IRA seriously as a political entity.
If we’re looking for pithy soundbites, I’m thinking we can do a little better than Justice Jackson. How about, “You can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs”, eh?
The IRA problem ceased when enough citizens got sick and tired of their criminal shenanigans and started snitching them out in droves. (E.G. The Mcartney sisters and Dave Rupert come to mind.), the only way for the IRA to save face was to embrace the political process.
Even then, there are distinct differences between IRA terrorism and Islamic Terrorism… It’s impossible to argue politics with the human fire cracker crowd.