Report: EWI 4th Worldwide Security Conference

DRAFT FOR COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS
This document will change.

I attended the main sessions, the special session on 'Democracy and Terrorism' and the following workshops; Convicting Terrorists, WMD, Towards a Code of Governance for Counter-Terrorism, Cyber Security.

Although many different forms of terrorism were discussed Islamic Jihadism was the main focus.

Conference Outcomes:
To sum up, the conference felt that the current strategy in 'The War Against Terror' was counter productive and amongst other suggestions there were two re-occurring ideas for reducing the risk of terror attacks:
1. Sharing databases between security and police services
2. Harmonising laws between states to enable cross-border communication.

The conference repeatedly stressed that civil liberties, equally applied at home and abroad, are essential for maintaining democracy and defeating terrorism.

A List or recommendations from workshops was drawn up.

I'm not sure how the list of recommendations from workshops, delivered in the final session were chosen. They seemed to have been assembled from points made by various speakers and participants and I am unsure of the criteria for including some and not others, or even if they were 'agreed' in any sense of the word, certainly no votes were taken.

Current Strategy
The way terror has been fought in the post 9/11 world came under much criticism, from the strategies, described as increasing the terror risk,  to the use of language in describing a 'war' and the 'Orwellian euphemisms' employed in it. Additionally many people raised serious concerns at the loss of civil liberties. Mary Robinson said she 'just couldn't believe how much has been lost so quickly'.

Secret intelligence reports, quoted in the press 25/2/07, back up and enforce statements made by several speakers, especially Dame Pauline Neville-Jones, and just how important changing strategy is: 

 However, there was no discussion of how to change this failed strategy or to how and why this strategy was developed. This was a major omission in the programme and a key requirement for reducing the threat of terrorism especially as there is a real risk of the situation becoming a regional conflict between Sunni and Shia

Selecting Speakers
There are some steps that the WSC could make. We have to admit that the Neo-Conservatives are part of the problem and not part of the solution. By inviting neo-con speakers we are giving them an acceptability that their contributions do not warrant.

It is hard to see how Claudia Rosett's rant against the UN Oil for Food programme made was relevant to a workshop on 'Towards a Code of Governance for Counter-Terrorism' or how her description of the Organisation of Islamic States as 'a bunch of thugs whose main purpose is to provide excuses for terrorists' is helpful. Of course we need different perspectives, but we need rational perspectives.

The Sharing of Databases
Although there was an assumption that sharing databases between security and law enforcement groups was required, no debate occurred on the down sides to this, especially implications on civil liberties.

Many of these databases are wildly inaccurate and often contain entries that are little more than unsubstantiated gossip. An inaccurate entry in such a database is a civil liberties violation waiting to occur. Sharing databases will mean people incorrectly included will face bigger problems and more violations will occur.

Additionally there have been many documented examples of unlawful data collection and sharing between national agencies. Information has also been used in an unauthorised manner, for example by employees checking records of ex partners as well as more commercial forms of industrial espionage.

Even a small database, such as used by many organisations represented at the meeting is very hard to keep accurate, a large merged database shared with a host of agencies in many states, often with different data protection laws or monitoring will be a major task and thought should be put into these issues before advocating such widespread data sharing.

Even at a national level there are continuing problems with using databases with front line staff, especially with the US Homeland Security and Aviation watch lists. If homeland security is so important, why is it a minimum wage job? Have we got the best people on the front line?

I gave the example of Republican Senator Ted Stevens, who's wife Catherine is frequently stopped and questioned because the is misidentified as Cat Stevens, know known as Yusuf Islam ( source ).

Sharing Intelligence
There must also be some serious thought into the use and sharing of intelligence. As we now know, much intelligence is compromised by political demands. Until we can de-politicise such material, should we be sharing it? Who is an acceptable partner? What safeguards need to be built in and how will they be monitored.

Session on Democracy and Terrorism
This was the most valuable part of the conference with interesting and thoughtful speakers. I would like to single out Louise Richardson and Stephen Tankel as particular highlights, but the most moving presentation was that of  Mariam Rawi, a humbling reminder of the consequences of our failures and of the millions of people whose lives are seriously affected by this.

Widening The Debate
I was pleased to hear Mary Robinson say that the Club de Madrid is looking for ways of expanding the debate and discussion to the wider world. Sadly most people are unaware of the Madrid Agenda or of the debates taking place in the think tanks and conferences of the world. We, as a known political weblog (and about to be formed organisation) would like to be part of widening this debate. To this end we blogged the conference, with several daily updates, and posted recordings of the speakers.

Suggested Sessions For Next Year
There wasn't time for to discuss victims of terrorism - although many prefer to identify themselves as survivors - , and I would like to introduce a friend of ours, Rachel from North London, who was in the 7/7 London tube bombing. Since then she has set up a popular weblog discussing current events and her struggles since the bombing.She also helped set up survivor led groups where people can talk and support each other. Not surprisingly she has also been campaigning for a public inquiry.

We are all aware of the need for victims rights but we should also listen to them as they do have something to say. Rachel's  story that marks her out as an exceptional person and her  article,  The F Word that shows that one difference between the victim and perpetrator is humanity. We can all be enriched by reading her words.

Another idea is to include more from the Islamic perspective and I would like to see someone of the stature of Sheik Hamza Yusuf on the platform.

Conference Organisation
The conference was very well organised, the sessions were chaired to a very high standard and there was a good balance between debating in the halls and networking outside.

Final Note
I would like to thank the organisers and say that I was honoured to attend. Through our weblog and a new project we will shortly announce, we will continue to broaden the debate, work with other individuals and organisations to promote the spirit of the Madrid Agenda. It was heartening to see that much of our thinking is in the mainstream.

We want to be included in the processes and debates and we hope that people will see that we do have something to contribute. We welcome your thoughts and comments. If you wish to contact us direct, then please do so.