Quite a ruckus has been kicked up of late thanks to the proposal by Wolfgang Schmidt, Germany’s security chief, pertaining to his approach for dealing with potential terrorist threats “post 9-11”. Germany has come through relatively unscathed to date, as compared to the terrorist events the UK has been grappling with, exception for the botched bombing attempt at the Cologne main train station (very close to Düsseldorf, I might add).
Among the methods up for debate: (1) preventive detention for people suspected of terrorist activities, (2)assassination of terrorist leaders abroad, and (3) clandestine searches of private PCs via the Internet, all of these which are currently forbidden. Opponents of this approach say this is a violation of personal rights and invasion of privacy…among other things.
For obvious reasons, Germany has been particularly sensitive to the rights of individuals since WWII, but this proposal has drawn some obvious references to the Nazi regime as well as Communist East Germany.
The balance between liberty and security is a fine one indeed…more rhetoric on this topic can definitely be expected as this proposal moves forward.
Think about the country in which each of you, the blog reader, hail from? Whether home or host country…do you know your country’s position on dealing with terrorism? Where does your country come down on issues such as these?
Food for thought….
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