Transparency
Sunlight is a great disinfectant, so I agree with the lawyers for Sydney’s terror suspects: open the proceedings to public scrutiny. I don’t think the need for this is entirely or even in any large measure to maintain government accountability, but rather because the more we all know, the safer we actually become. Ignorance of the threat of terrorism, whether internal or imported, has been more the source of the present precariousness than other factors, that and ignorance of the internal and external conditions that have given rise to such hatred. Our own lack of knowledge and understanding is where our efforts need to be concentrated. Once it comes to arrests and prosecutions the damage is already done, even without any bombs going off. So let’s see who these people are, let’s hear the evidence, let’s hear all of it, and let’s really pay attention.