> Letters from France: Divided by a single language
19 September 2004, 03:44
Europe has had anti terrorism laws long before Sept 11 because it has had to deal with terrorism for a long time. Britain has been dealing with paramilitaries for over 30 years. Current law allows a suspect to be held for no more than 2 weeks without charge.
U.S. law has permitted detainees to be held in Guantanamo Bay for more than 2 years without charge, most of these detainees being not linked at all to al qaeda.
Britain did once try " internment" of suspects but found it was so counter productive leading to more violence that the laws were scrapped. America should seriously contemplate doing the same thing.
Europe has had anti terrorism laws long before Sept 11 because it has had to deal with terrorism for a long time. Britain has been dealing with paramilitaries for over 30 years. Current law allows a suspect to be held for no more than 2 weeks without charge.
U.S. law has permitted detainees to be held in Guantanamo Bay for more than 2 years without charge, most of these detainees being not linked at all to al qaeda.
Britain did once try " internment" of suspects but found it was so counter productive leading to more violence that the laws were scrapped. America should seriously contemplate doing the same thing.