The fact that the "shoot to kill" policy of the London authorities resulted in the death of an innocent Brazilian student has cast a pall over everything else this weekend. Der Spindoktor reflects on the damage that has already been inflicted on our freedoms by the terrorists.
Die islamistischen Terroristen sind mit ihrer Strategie der Zermürbung der westlichen Demokratien momentan überaus erfolgreich. Allüberall werden neue Maßnahmen zur Simulation größerer Sicherheit vorgeschlagen, konkret vorbereitet sowie verabschiedet, statt eine aufrichtige Debatte darüber zu führen, ob wir den absoluten Überwachungsstaat wollen.
Examples of "collateral damage" abound. Why do the police in Bavaria and North Rhein Westfalis maintain a database on presumed gays and lesbians in those states? What does an individual’s sexual orientation have to do with state security? The situation is reminiscent of the Pink List (Rosa Lista)used by the Nazis to persecute homosexuals. (Note: so far no commentary on the Web site of the LSU (Lesben u.Schwule in der Union) – the sister organization to the self-loathing Log Cabin Republicans. )
More on the London shoot-to-kill tragedy by in inestimable Juan Cole on his blog this morning:
The tragedy of the death of Menezes is a deliberate outcome of al-Qaeda tactics. The organization is attempting to spread fear and hatred, and knows that the Western security agencies and military will often over-react, helping discredit them with Muslims and perhaps others. (The racial profiling aspect of Menezes’ death is clear, and has cast a chill on the UK Muslim community).
Finally, commentary by Christian Rath in taz: ("Shoot-to-Kill Policy Cannot be Justified"):
Denn die Opfer solcher Todesschüsse werden in aller Regel nicht blond sein, sondern nordafrikanisch oder pakistanisch aussehen. Nur durch Zufall haben die Kugeln diesmal einen Brasilianer und keinen Muslim getroffen – sonst wäre es vermutlich schon jetzt zu Rebellionen in muslimisch geprägten Stadtteilen gekommen.
