John Dardis (Progressive Democrats)

I want to ensure it is on record that this side is just as condemnatory in its denunciation of what took place yesterday with regard to the murder of Sheikh Ahmed Yassin. Terrorism from whatever quarter has been always condemned in this House. Terrorism from the state is no less terrorism than terrorism from any private army, irrespective, as Senator O'Toole said, of the views held by the sheikh and the possibility that people were sent out as suicide bombers by him. Nevertheless, if the rule of law is subverted, we are on a slippery slope. We know that from our own experience here where, against all the odds, we upheld the rule of law. I am glad the European Union condemned the assassination also in strong terms. One would have expected the United States to be more condemnatory in what it had to say.