I don't believe you've made a point about civil liberties being striped ... I heard your complaint/protest about the sky falling, but you haven't provided any information supporting your arguement. You see, I don't believe that you are correct.

As to Kendall's point; there was nothing patronizing about it! What's more, he is correct - these things are resolved with votes not protests. I do not believe for a moment that Americans would stand for a real loss of civil liberties - we're just too set in our ways. Of course, New Yorkers did allow the car phone ban, and we still have the odd fight over Americans bearing arms - but these arguments ebb and flow at the periphery.

And of course the IRA question is germain to this discussion. They are being asked by an adversary (or hopefully) former adversary; to give up their weapons, to trust completely in their government to treat them with respect and to never threaten them again. This is a significant loss of personal freedom.