Last week, Nelson Mandela was officially a terrorist. Today he isn't. Despite the fact that his party, the African National Congress, has been in government in South Africa for 14 years, Mandela had remained on the United States' Terror Watch List, as had his party, since the 1980s.
But finally, the US government has removed them from this hall of infamy.
I find this an interesting development for two reasons. First, it demonstrates pretty well how ridiculous the whole Terror Watch List really is. For starters, it's way too long. For a while now, the American Civil Liberties Union has been estimating that the List should contain about 1 million names right about now. They've even put a counter on their website for the purpose. And as they point out, there are some weird names on that List, like the 9/11 hijackers who - in case you hadn't figured it out - are dead. Have a close look. You'll probably find yourself there.
The number of names on the List is slightly misleading because it would also include aliases. So 1 million names could mean about 250,000 people. But even so, it's getting to such bloated proportions that it's becoming all but useless.
But the second reason this news is interesting, is that it reminds us that it was not so long ago that conventional wisdom was pretty happy to declare that Mandela actually was a terrorist. Margaret Thatcher thought so. So did Ronald Reagan - who was president when Mandela was put on the Terror Watch List. So did Dick Cheney who voted against changing the listing in 1986. After all, Mandela founded and led the ANC's armed wing, and launched bombing campaigns on government and military targets. During the '80s, his organisation was involved in guerilla wars in which civilians were killed. In fact, Mandela's arrest was only possible because of co-operation from the CIA who clearly felt they were helping to apprehend a terrorist.
How things change!
Comments
Belinda from Brisbane
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Zoe G from Tas
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ad from vic
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cardinal dotdline from Islamic Republic of Coburg
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C from J
theres always exceptions i agree but two exceptions pluss still looks like a small minority. i didnt think youd print the post actually.i guess some/most muslims can take criticsm but the radical/violent minority sure make a p.r. defence very hard for you .the western media come down hard on any extremists look at the hard time they give the exclusive bretheren and they havnt killed anyone in the name of god. this has got to be the last goodbye goodbye.
WA says: I think the point is that those who resort to political violence are very much the small minority, not the other way around.
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c from j
muslim terrorists in china, bejing olympics. 16 dead. muslim terrorists everywhere there are muslims. it looks like where there are muslims there are terrorists. wow its not new, but its consistant.muslim terrorists everywhere there are muslims.. lucky we have no muslims in camden hey wazz they may blow up the camden show to make a point. hey wazz if there was an olimpics for terrorism muslims would win hands down. thats all theyd win. what about that dead syrian minister, its about time hey.
WA says: Sri Lanka? Rwanda? As I recall, these are (or were) zones of heightened conflict where Muslims are about the only non-violent group.
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Ali G from Melb
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XDfunny from canberra
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j from c
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j from c
comm'on wazz, you've got to give those muslim terrorists some credit for innovation.suicide bombings perfected,road side bombs,home made rockets. why are you taking the credit away from them.its not just a case of donkey see donkey do. mr. you can vote then refresh and vote again. etc thats where i get all my support from.
WA says: Not really. The Tamil Tigers are significanly advanced in their suicide bombing technology, and many of the road side bombs being used in Iraq and Afghanistan are actually quite old technology.
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Mr. from NSW
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Ali G from Melbourne
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ralph bertran from Thirlmere
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j from c
gee ali if you didnt talk so bad people would understand what you are saying. you are repeating what i said about jewish terrorism.they are terrorists in they're own day. but muslim terrorists take the cake for brutality and viscosness.the only innovation that muslims have shown is how to kill people. innocent or not.
WA says: Actually, Muslim terrorist groups haven't been terribly innovative at all in their killing techniques. They've borrowed most of them from non-Muslim terrorist groups.
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Ali G from Melbourne
I am surprised who disagreed with my comments. Da comments I write are true, actually very true. You guys(who disagreed) can cross check on da internet. But dont be to0 stupid to disagree. actually very stupid, unrealistic. U guys just suck.
WA says: More internet scholarship!
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AteKhairo from Job Network
Why do we have a system where people have different status before the law. People are categarised in different groups ranging from most superior to the least one. I will explain with an example to what I mean. When there is a kind of crime being commited by a non-muslim (european). The news goes: A man killed another man... However when it comes to a muslim bloke commiting the same crime. The news goes: A muslim allegedly killed a person at... I don't no y this double standard. Do u know??
WA says: That's an issue of media coverage, not of unequal status before the law.
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Mr. from NSW
I'm confused - when I click on 'I agree' or 'I disagree' am I agreeing/disagreeing with the person who made the comment or am I dis/agreeing with your reply to the comment!? very important question I know...
WA says: You know, I've wondered the same thing! For the sake of establishing a convention, let's say you're agreeing with the orginal comment, not my reply.
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Ali G from Melbourne
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Ali G from Melbourne
Hey Chris! have ya opened da history books ever? hahaha. neva mind. U see this is da problem of non-muslims dat dey dont know anything about Muslims nd say stuff like u did. Well ever heard of Jabar ibn Hayan. hez known as father of Chemistry. Anyway. You probably got da image of Muslims from Osama bin laden but he doesnt represent all of da Muslims nd if u think he attacked twin-towers. better watch 9/11 an inside job on youtube or other sites nd der r other documentaries as well. watch dem.
WA says: I'm not sure ignorance is best fought with conspiracy theories.
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Sally from Sydney
I love Salam Cafe Keep up the good work. Everyone is talking about it & its really funny..... But Someting I don't like is Susan's Tongue ring...................... Please Sister your Educated and smart Take it off. I still like you but not the tongue ring.
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