What the anti-terrorism laws are really all about - an 82 year old member

[Matilda]

of the British Labour Party and peace activist was removed from the
Labour Party conference on Wednesday after shouting out "nonsense"
when Jack Straw was attempting to gloss over the British involvement
in Iraq. Another delegate, Steve Forrest, was also ejected when
he told security men to leave Walter Wolfgang alone. Wolfgang
was questioned by police under anti-terrorism powers.

When he was allowed in again on Thursday, he received a round of
applause from all delegates except two.


http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1170490


I really believe that this is what Howard's new laws are all about -
stifling all dissent from his policies, and it scares me. It scares
me even more that so many people just can't see it. If you refer
to Nazi Germany or the USSR you get "oh, that couldn't happen here"
or "if you've done nothing wrong, you've nothing to fear." Wrong
on both counts, folks.

I just can't figure out how and why the state premiers rolled over
with hardly a whimper. Howard could do nothing without their help,
yet they failed dismally to even insist on judicial oversight all
the way, and gave him the most generous sunset clause imaginable.

The sound you can hear is my head banging on the wall.

[PantPlant]

1. Shameful

[neweurope]

2. There have been two posts about it yesterday. It scares hell out

of me - especially because all of Europe is (under US pressure) considering/passing similar laws.

What scares me further is that German papers so far have not reported this incident at all, and the British papers (Guardian, Independent) are focusing on the gentleman's age, the following apologies to him and the fact Labour's internal structure seems to be becoming more "totalitarian".

In my opinion those are side issues. Under the pretext of fighting "terrorism" they are, in fact, taking away ALL civil rights. Now it's only a matter of whether they CHOOSE to apply the "terrorist" law in a particular case. Now we depend on luck - not on law anymore.

I wouldn't put it past them to have pre-planned it, too; heckling must have been anticipated. A trial ballon, so to say, to see how the public reacts.

It's been successful.

I'm scared as all get out.

------------

Remember Fallujah

Bush to The Hague!

[Matilda]

3. I also got the info from another DU post.

I've not seen anything in the local papers about it, although I've
only read the online versions today and won't read the full paper
until I get home tonight.

Of course "the usual suspects" are speaking against it, but the
numbers are few and I think they're only preaching to the choir.

[Matilda]

4. Watch now for Howard to use the latest Bali bombing

to win support for the new legislation. And the sheeple will fall
for it, although it's clearly aimed at the Balinese tourist trade,
which just happens to include a large proportion of Australians.

The terrorists just seem to play right into the hands of the right-
wingers every time - we just can't take a trick.