The Trouble with Terror: Liberty, Security and the Response to Terrorism

What is terrorism and can it ever be defended? Beginning with its definition, proceeding to its possible justifications, and culminating in proposals for contending with and combating it, this book offers a full theoretical analysis of the issue of terrorism. Tamar Meisels argues that, regardless of its professed cause, terrorism is diametrically opposed to the requirements of liberal morality and can only be defended at the expense of relinquishing the most basic of liberal commitments.

Meisels opposes those who express sympathy and justification for Islamic (particularly Palestinian) and Third World terrorism but, at the same time, also opposes those who would tolerate any reduction in civil liberties in exchange for greater security. Calling wholeheartedly for a unanimous liberal front against terrorism, this is a strong and provocative attempt to address the tension between liberty and security in a time of terror.

• A strong attack on attempts by some liberals to defend terrorism in certain circumstances
• Examines how political leaders, judges and interrogators should handle circumstances of extreme emergency - combining theory with real-world situations
• Explores whether the use of torture can ever be justified in order to extract potentially life-saving information from terrorist suspects