It is the 10th August 2006 and yet again another 'terrorist threat', yet again panic, confusion and ill-thought out security measures by the authorities. Does the government still not understand that it is the *threat* of a terror action that is aimed to cause maximum inconvenience and panic that is the aim, rather than any particular 'successful' action? You certainly wouldn't think so to judge from their ham-fisted and overblown reactions everytime a 'new' terror threat is found.
And yet again we have another populist Home Secretary, yet another string of rhetoric and confused thinking about the Human Rights legislation and yet more promised 'anti-terror' legislation. And, naturally, anybody who raises a critical voice or question is denounced as threatening the entire nation - and one thought one was living in a *democratic* nation!
I am rather concerned that the government has realised that secretly protecting the public through counterterrorism operations does not win it any brownie points. Rather, they now believe that PR management of announcing their 'successful' counter-terrorism operation is much better politically as it will scare the public witless into supporting the Labour government and their introduction of more bad legislation. Someone needs to be addressing this problem, as these continual attempts to legitimate legislation through fear is a very dangerous and undemocratic
road to travel down. I for one, have become increasingly disenchanted by the illiberal tone of the Labour government which puts political point scoring at a premium even in so-called emergencies - witness Reid's comment on the opposition parties.
The BBC even quotes the Police as stating that an attack is *not* thought to be imminent. So why on earth is the government acting like it is. Why the panic at Heathrow and the overblown security measures.
It is time for cool heads and critical reasoning by our elected representatives - who unfortunately are unable to voice any concerns as the UK Parliament remains in recess.