The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) just released their report on the effect the Global War on Terror governments across the globe.  The ICJ held hearings in 16 countries, covered over 40 countries, creating the most detailed accounting of legal and institutional attitudes about the exercise of state power.

The outcome of the study was not heartening.  If the US bends the rules, others will too.  Most countries have grown more violent and the world has seen wide spread restriction of free speech and increased state torture.

Terrorism sows terror, and many States have fallen into a trap set by the terrorists. Ignoring lessons from the past, they have allowed themselves to be rushed into hasty responses, introducing an array of measures which undermine cherished values as well as the international legal framework carefully developed since the Second World War. These measures have resulted in human rights violations, including torture, enforced disappearances, secret and arbitrary detentions, and unfair trials. ere has been little accountability for these abuses or justice for their victims.

The report understands that terrorism is a real, long term threat but thinks that the international human rights framework has the capacity to deal with the problem.  IF the global community takes an opportunity to re-examined the threat and our response to it.

So far we have reacted in a violent, non-sensical manner than threatens the existing international order.  We are open the door for states to assum more power over us.  Ultimately, our response to terrorism is a bigger threat to our safety than anything else.