Fighting terrorism and being seen to fight terrorism

There is a difference - a huge difference!

Yesterday I posted this article about the huge numbers of terrorist suspects arrested and then released in the UK. Only 6 out of 572 people were convicted while, according to Scotland Yard figures, fewer than one in five of the 572 held in such police operations were charged with terrorism-related offences. There is something wrong here and something needs to be done about it.

Meanwhile in Pakistan we get this report:

Pakistani authorities on Saturday released 78 Pashtun tribesmen arrested two months ago in a major sweep against al Qaeda militants and their local allies in the tribal region near the Afghan border.

And in Italy this report:

An Italian court has acquitted three Egyptians accused of planning to attack a Rome airport and a US war cemetery.

The ruling comes two days after nine Moroccans, accused of plotting to bomb the US embassy in Rome, were acquitted.

Now is appears this "wanting to be seen" to be fighting terrorism has reached a terrible conclusion.

From CNN

Macedonia admits staging raid, killing innocents
Friday, April 30, 2004 Posted: 8:14 PM EDT (0014 GMT)

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) -- Macedonian police gunned down seven innocent immigrants, then claimed they were terrorists, in a killing staged to show they were participating in the U.S.-led campaign against terrorism, authorities said Friday.

Police spokeswoman Mirjana Konteska told reporters that six people, including three former police commanders, two special police officers and a businessman, have been charged by police with murder.

There will always be the danger of people using the war on terror as a cover for their own agendas. Governments around the world have to do better at stopping this sort of thing.