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UK Woman Charged As Terrorist For Computer Files
Terror Alert Brown writes "Reuters is reporting that a UK woman has been charged as a terrorist because of computer files on her hard drive. According to the article, these files included 'the Al Qaeda Manual, The Terrorists Handbook, The Mujahideen Poisons Handbook, a manual for a Dragunov sniper rifle, and The Firearms and RPG Handbook.' She was picked up in connection with the plot stopped in August to detonate explosives in airplanes flying out of Heathrow airport. Now might be a good time to delete any copies of the Anarchist's Cookbook you once read for amusement and still have floating around on your hard drive."
she was arrested in connection with someone else who was bringing a night vision scope into the country
what would you do? excuse her?
a lot of those commenting here who say how this is wrong, would be the first to say that a big problem with terrorism is ineffectual law enforcement: that 9/11 was a us intelligence failure, for example
so you're a cop, and this guy is bringing a night vision scope into the country, and a computer in the possession of his wife/ sister/ girlfriend/ mother is loaded with literature that isn't exactly about butterfly catching
what would you do if you were that cop?
which way do you err?
you can err on the side of caution for the general public, and detain her, and risk jailing an innocent person
or, you can err on the side of caution for individual rights, and free her, and risk that she does something since law enforcement is closing in
what do you do?
a lot of you howl with righteous indignation in your armchairs, as if it's so obvious and cut and pat and easy. heaven forbid you are on the frontlines, and actually have the responsibility of protecting people from real terrorism
terorrism doesn't exist? it isn't a threat?
look again at the details surrounding her case. you tell me what you would do
go ahead and pepper it with armchair analyst morally indignant certainty, go ahead
it's all so clean and simple and obvious, right?
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
Sir, we here at Slashdot find your comment offensive and ill-suited. May we recommend our tinfoil hats, 50% off, today only!
If she did have one, she'd probably be on trial for being a witch too.
Years ago I dated a woman for several months who was arrested (and eventually convicted) as being a courier for a methamphetmine distribution ring a few months after we ceased seeing each other.
So what you're saying (cutting out your long-winded story) is that you never bothered to find out more about this woman other than the fact that she was good in bed or a great companion. Is my reading of this situation correct?