He's right.

Clues:
http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,46747,00.html

(FBI turning up at ISPs in the US with Carnivore boxes
in tow, asking if they can plug them in, now).

And it's not just the USA:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/wtccrash/story/0,1300,550524,00.html

(Tony Blair, British PM noted for extreme control freakiness, orders security clampdown in the UK, starts
discussions with other EU leaders, more or less declares
Jihad against global terrorism.)

Yep, the extreme control freaks are having a field day.



-- Charlie

I agree with Mr. Barlow. We absolutely need to demonstrate in the streets to protect our civil liberties. And we should do it now in New York and Washington, where the authorities are too busy elsewhere to prevent us from winning the hearts and minds of the American people. Say when, John. I'm right behind you.

Barlow is an idiot.

Your words are right!
I feel as shocked as possibly being though i don't inhabit NY i not even US citizen.
As a french citizen i feel as concerned by the past disaster as the incoming events
We french are not that confident about Bush's policy even about his own mind and wisdom.
and that is really scary! because america's arm is the only one able to launch a global disaster

Perhaps our children will remember Barlow's words of concern while they are dying in Afghanistan for his right to voice his opinion. If our freedom erodes beyond our tolerance, there will be lack of support for our government. That's not likely to happen soon. Monday, I would have agreed with John's view that our personal freedoms are being eroded. Today, I view this concern as inconsequential. The vast majority of America is willing to sacrifice some of our rights temporarily (and some permanently - no more boarding planes without close searches) to ensure the success of our armed forces and defeat terrorism. I am proud to be one of those Americans. Maybe John would stick to writing songs until the war is won (unless he wants to write something patriotic and inspiring, as I know he could if he wanted).

Edited by author 09-16-2001 04:49 AM
I honestly cannot conceive of an alternative to (at least) temporary rendition of civil liberties provided the general goal is to prevent the terrorist acts capable of being commited via the very exploitation of the freedoms currently enjoyed. It does indeed appear atrocious to minimize our freedoms as such and contradict the principles of our land, but to do otherwise is to /permit/ the continuation of this terrorism and is utterly myopic. Perhaps I am missing something but I see no proposed ALTERNATIVES. If you want to convince me or anyone who shares this mindset, that is an integral aspect of your position.