"A spectacular litany of cock-ups"

[fiat_knox]

Yahoo Politics blog - "A spectacular litany of cock-ups"

They should use it as a cautionary tale for children. From the moment assistant commissioner Bob Quick allowed his folder to be snapped by photographers, to the handing of 11 of the Pakistani terrorist suspects to immigration officials yesterday, this case has summarises all that is wrong with Britain's security system.
Let's start from the beginning. The man in charge of Britain's counter-terrorism policy was clearly unaware that he shouldn't exit cars with details of impending operations clearly visible in his hands. He has the good sense to resign promptly.

The mistake forces police to arrest the men - although Liberal Democrat sources pressing the government on the issue say the government still hasn't made it clear if the arrests were brought forward by hours, or days, or months. The daylight arrests allow for saturated media coverage, however, further fuelling a sense of fear and threat in a public already used to consuming it.

The men - 11 Pakistani students and one British citizen - are then held for 14 days - half the time allowed under anti-terrorism laws. But when the crown prosecution service goes to seek judicial permission for an extension of the detention, the judge rejects it, expressing concerns about the quality of the evidence and the lack of progress in the case.

It's worth noting, by the way, that the police sought for the detention to be renewed despite these factors. When Tony Blair tried to get 90 day detention through, and then his successor pushed for 42 days, they both tried to justify the measure by claiming police said it was necessary, because the current time limit was being used up. Opponents said the police tend to use the powers available to them to their full extent. This case appears to corroborate that argument.

And now the UK plans to deport them. Possibly out of embarrassment, possibly for genuine reasons of national security. By this stage, of course, we're quite incapable of trusting them to make that judgement, given the childish and over-enthusiastic way in which they tend to use that phrase They are the boy that cried wolf - another cautionary tale which should have been read to them as children.

But Gordon Brown's decision to come out after the arrests and speak of a "major terrorist plot", and the release of their names to the Pakistani authorities, means the men could face torture back home. So their lawyers are appealing the decision, which will probably end up in the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac). There's a good chance they'll win.

So what can we conclude from this shambles?

Firstly; thank Christ for the judges. One of the saddest things about the government's response to the threat of Islamic terrorism is the abject lack of faith it has shown in the essential strength of the British way of life, and the brilliance of the ideas which underpin it. The role of the judiciary in our national life in the years since September 11th is testament to that. They have consistently stood up to over-arching government power - despite some vindictive and irresponsible attacks from various home secretaries, most notably David Blunkett. And they have acted according to reason and evidence, rather than the desperate populism and shrill hysteria of the Home Office.

Secondly; one of the primary defences we have against the establishment of a police state in this country is the utter incompetence of those who rule us. From Bob Quick forgetting photography had been invented, to the prime minister speaking before he thinks, to the police questioning a man for weeks on the basis of what we now discover is one "cryptic" email - you get the sense that these men would be incapable of running an Orwellian nightmare effectively, regardless of their intentions. Fascism requires aptitude.

It's not the most charming or life-affirming fact to fall back on. But if you belief in civil liberties right now, you'll take anything you can get.

Ian Dunt

Comments, anyone?