I think those who favour the current treatment of Mohamed Haneef need to tell us just how far they would have this country go, short of Australia becoming an outright totalitarian dictatorship, in order to prevent any possibility of an act of terrorism occurring on Austalian soil.

The powers that Ruddock is seeking are so broad that they could be used to imprison at will almost any individual that this government feels threatened by.

Let's just consider how low this government has stooped in recent years in order stay in power and to otherwise serve its own ends:

* almost AU$300 million in bribes paid to regime of Saddam Hussein prior to 2003 in order to secure wheat sales. Then, in March 2003 Howard tells us that the same Government of Saddam Hussein poses such a threat to world peace that we are left with no choice but to invade. Justification for invasion includes lie (at a number of levels) of the existence of WMD's in Iraq. This one cynical act, now admitted to have been motivated by oil, has done more than anything else to raise Australia's exposure to the risk of terrorism.

* $20million of taxpayers money spent during 2004 election campaign on the "Strengthening Medicare" campaign that was known to be a lie even at the time.

* 'Baby bonus' payments given away without even twice to some people as an election bribe prior to the 2004 election campaign.

* No mention of "Work Choices" during the 2004 election campaign, but legislation announced after Governmem returned to office. $55million of taxpayers dollars spent on the most extravagent saturation campaign of deceit in our history.

* Telstra privatised against opposition of at least 70% of the public and against undertakings not to do so unti l rural services were satisfactory.

* etc, etc.

Just possibly, if we don't become a dicatorship, then it is likely that some cold-blooded act of terrorism, that otherwise would have been prevented, will occur, but I would rather take my chances with the terrorists than I would giving such a Government these powers.

"I would rather take my chances with the terrorists than I would giving such a Government these powers."

Precisely. It's a cold hearted thing to say, but if there was a terrorist attack in Australia a number of people would be killed, a lot more would be upset, but the rest of us could get on with our lives unimpeded.

The way things are going we have more to fear from our own government, because their attack is directed at all of us.

I wonder why you need to ask a question such as "IS Terorism so Bad"
Would you like to have family members in the twin towers on 7/11?or one of your daughters marry in to one of those cultures,where they have not got the freedom of home,there baby girl bodies are mutilated in the name of their faith?This is what Islamic face at this point in time.Under S,Hussein rule the little people were afraid to speak up against any rule this dictator decided to make,I don't like the idea of any war for any reason.But when a body like the BinLaden has decided that islam should become a faith for anyone and is taking the teachings of "Kill an Infidel" to go to heaven literally.He is a man that is needed to be stopped, He is an extremist.In the buildings of the Twin Towers there were no doubt Islamic believing people murdered along with all the others,They were just ordinary people with a belief that was the same as christian,catholic,judism and countless other faiths murdered on that day.Yes Terrorism is Bad,But why have they not gone after the bad seed Osama Bin Laden.Why have they not stopped him should be the question asked.

If something was causing deaths at the rate of 63,729 per year, 5,310 per month, 1,225 per week, 174 per day, 7 per hour, shouldn't we declare a war on it?

But these deaths are happening in the US - from 'Flu, plain old influenza.

1,353 men died from influenza in Australia 2002
1,731 women died from influenza in Australia 2002

Have we got our priorities very wrong? Or are there other motives?

It seems to me that "it is always the government's fault" I can imagine the outcry when there is a terrorist event. "the government didn't do enough to protects us" It's a no-win situation whoever is in power, there is always an element that disagrees with their policy. It's called democracy and the important thing is that we still live in a country that allows criticism of what they do for us.

Daggett,

I wholeheartedly agree with your comments regarding the threat of our country being/becoming a dictatorship... I have commented on this before.

I enjoyed reading your post.

Glenda