Decius wrote:
The Gingrich quote in full. This perspective shouldn't be dismissed outright. Al Queda is a scene. It has no central organization. Its just a bunch of people who share a perspective. They share that perspective online. If you want to stop them from organizing, you have to stop them from hanging out online. And that runs into the first amendment like a train wreck. This is the fundamental question of our age.

I think it should be dismissed outright. One of the main ways we know what these groups are up to is because we let them talk about it. I think effectively, privacy is in more danger of being changed than speech is. If you don't allow open rebellion through speech, then you end up with dissatisfied masses which have no other outlet to change things other than violence. Restricting speech would probably do more to encourage terror than it would to help. Just because their type of organization might be illegal will not make them impossible, it will just help them to be sure to be extra careful. We want these groups to exercise their speech, and the louder the better.

RE: Gingrich wants to restrict freedom of speech? - Countdown with Keith Olbermann - MSNBC.com