Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 14:17:56 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Different approach to terrorist threat


It looks like the EZLN has avoided terrorist status, as have the rest of
Mexico's insurgent groups. But that could certainly change now, depending
on the needs of the Mexican state, the development of Plan Pueblo-Panama,
the progress of the drug interdiction campaign in the south, pressure from
other nations (such as the US.) Fox had put out a call to negotiate, but i
have heard little about any positive responses. The lesson of the San
Andres Accords probably looms large in the minds of Mexican rebels. 

Columbia may be one of the places to watch for signs of intensification of
"counter-terrorism" aimed at insurgent groups. And, of course, (US)
domestic groups like Earth Liberation Front are starting to find
themselves dealt with in those terms. Action against anti-globalists has
already made use of racketeering statutes. It will be worth watching any
attempts to redefine protest actions further. The Omnibus Counter
Terrorism bill already attempted to redefine some forms of information
dissemination in terms of aid to terrorists. Some of the most significant
threats to domestic freedom in the US could come through the very broad
language being used to characterize such "aid." The with us or against us
approach could get pretty draconian, if given even a few legal
teeth. Maybe it's not such a bad time to be failing as a radical
bookseller... =(

-shawn

Shawn P. Wilbur       
www.wcnet.org/~swilbur  | lists.village.virginia.edu/~spoons
www.wcnet.org/~paupers  | alwato.iuma.com