In February of 1972 I was hitchhiking from Dublin to Belfast. I got picked up by a gentleman — well, maybe not so gentle — on his way to visit his brother, who was interned by the British. At the time they could intern British subjects suspected of terrorism (the IRA bombing campaign was going full tilt at the time) and hold them for considerable time without trial. From talking to the brother, I gathered the Brits were not making a lot of mistakes in their choice of involuntary guests (“the boys” as he called them). They were Irish Catholics being interned, so there may have been a centuries long tradition involved.

I suspect a similar policy as regards Islamic terrorism would empty Britain of most of its Islamist militants real quick. They would probably move to Berlin or Hamburg and study flying, rather then spend time in a damp cell. Of course, there is no going back to the bad old days of 1972.