Michael Otterman's powerful book, 
Michael Otterman is currently a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney, as well as an award-winning journalist and filmmaker.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Counter-Terror Coordinator Believes EU More At Risk Due to Human Rights Violations
In an FT interview the outgoing Counter-Terror Coordinator for the EU, Gijs de Vries, stated clearly that he believes that torture and other human rights violations committed by the U.S. and supported by its allies have made Europe less safe:
"Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib, military commissions and CIA renditions have undermined the credibility of the U.S. and its partners" he said.
Gijs de Vries also noted that: "We have to stop today's terrorists and we must also prevent tomorrow's terrorists being radicalised."
He urged the U.S. to return to the human rights mainstream - at least in part - because of the security ramifications.
"Guantánamo, Abu Ghraib, military commissions and CIA renditions have undermined the credibility of the U.S. and its partners" he said.
Gijs de Vries also noted that: "We have to stop today's terrorists and we must also prevent tomorrow's terrorists being radicalised."
He urged the U.S. to return to the human rights mainstream - at least in part - because of the security ramifications.