In limbo: Lisa Smith and her daughter are stranded, but her case is a political hot potato, and that may explain the inaction

It was a difficult and dangerous set of circumstances to be working in for all concerned. But the matter was concluded successfully with the release of the individual concerned.

In the case of Smith, from a security and a logistics perspective, it would be a much easier operation than the one in Darfur 10 years ago. But from a political perspective it is rife with problems. This, I would argue, is the reason this saga is dragging on the way it has.

The facts of the matter are that we do have the capacity, as we did in Darfur 10 years ago, to deploy personnel capable of operating in volatile and fragile states. If, as a State, we were serious about wanting to gather facts to ascertain as to whether Smith was still a threat to the State, we could be doing that now.

Also, if we were being serious about our humanitarian concerns over Smith’s baby daughter, an innocent party to all of this who surely qualifies for the protection of this State, we should be making better efforts to get her out of this region.

We know from media reports the friendly links between Irish and US security forces could have likely facilitated this some time ago with minimum risk to Irish lives.

Which brings us back to all the waffle recently on the airwaves about this being a security issue. Sure there are security issues to be addressed, but this is really a political issue and don’t kid yourself thinking otherwise.

We have the means to have gotten both mother and child out. We have the means by which to have commenced appropriate intelligence gathering at source to determine a security threat assessment and evidence gathering and perhaps witness statement taking to determine if Smith is guilty of particular crimes and we, as a State, have ducked those tasks.

Instead, the State is hoping and waiting to see what other European partners are going to do. As a State, we are petrified about being seen as too soft by our neighbours and too hard by the audience at home.

Hence the strong likelihood that if and when Smith returns home, our squeamish State apparatus will make no attempt to charge her for her own admission as to having been part of one of the most odious terrorist regimes the world has seen.

The irony of this is that such inaction will increase insecurity for Smith, her child and all her family, such is the level of public odium that exists for her in Ireland today. It will be the State’s responsibility to recognise this and take steps to address it if she returns.

Also, going back to her admissions, it is clear to me from my own experiences working on counter extremism and terrorism projects that this woman, regardless of whether found guilty of crimes, will need to undergo a de-radicalisation programme.

Apart from Dr Umar Al-Qadri, the imam at Blanchardstown mosque, I’ve heard no one, much less a servant of the State, talk about the preparation or need for this regarding Smith.