Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Spy-master says secrecy helps terrorists

The director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service has publically warned that excessive government secrecy and draconian counterterrorism measures will only help terrorists.

"The response to the terrorist threat, whether now or in the future, should follow the long-standing principle of 'in all things moderation,'" Jim Judd, director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, said in a recent Toronto speech.

[...]

"We therefore have to avoid falling prey to the terrorist propaganda which would have people believe that this is a clash of civilizations or cultures or religions," he said. "Our own response therefore has to be carefully modulated and very focused.... And we have to be very careful in our use of language on these issues.

"Over-reaction to terrorism, it should be remembered, is a fundamental objective of most terrorists in history. We should not accommodate their goals in this regard."

If only there were more people like him, and fewer gung-ho cowboys using counter-terrorism for their own selfish purposes.

(Thanks to Bruce Schneier.)

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