Natalie Plumb
Mr. Ormsby
United States History Gold 5
10 March 2016
Is the USA PATRIOT ACT Unconstitutional? “Today, our fellow citizens, our way of life, our very freedom came under attack in a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices: secretaries, business men and women, military and federal workers, moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror” (Asad). When the Twin Towers crumbled to the ground and nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives on September 11, 2001 after a horrifying and unprecedented attack by the Islamic terrorist organization al-Qaeda, the country struggled to overcome the grave losses described by
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According to the American Civil Liberties Union, "The Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures requires the government to both obtain a warrant and to give notice to the person whose property will be searched before conducting the search" ("How the USA-Patriot Act Expands 'Sneak and Peek' Warrants"). Despite the Fourth Amendment’s clear requirements for conducting a constitutional and proper search, the Patriot Act does not require the officials to immediately notify citizens of searches: “Section 213 of the USA-PATRIOT Act adds a provision…enabling the government to delay notice if the court concludes that there is “reasonable cause” that immediate notice will create an “adverse result” such as physical danger, the destruction of evidence, delayed trial, flight from prosecution, and other circumstances” (Solove). Under the “Sneak and Peek” provision, law enforcement agencies continue to be required to obtain a warrant from a judge before conducting a search, but are not required, before or even immediately after the search occurs, to inform the person whose property, business, or belongings are being searched. For this reason, such warrants obtained without the knowledge of the citizen in question are referred to as delay-notification warrants, and blatantly violate citizens' Fourth Amendment right to be informed of any and all
The day was September 11th, 2001, a moment in history that will never be forgotten by any American living at the time. It was in the early morning hours on this day that our nation experienced the single most devastating terrorist attack ever carried out on American soil. Images of planes crashing into the World Trade Center, news coverage of buildings on fire, and images of building rubble will forever be imprinted into the history of this great nation. However, it was on one of the darkest days for America that one of the most impassioned speeches ever given by a United States president was spoken. President George W. Bush’s speech addressing the nation after the “9/11” attacks was infused with pathos through his imagery of destruction and
September 11, 2001, is a day that will go down in history and never be forgotten. On this day in time, Islamic terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in New York City, as well as The Pentagon building in Washington, D.C. The terrorists, who were affiliated with Al Qaeda, were led by the one and only, Osama Bin Laden. Nine days after this devastating attack on our country, President George W. Bush addressed Congress with an unplanned State of the Union address. Bush used great amounts of tragedy with a direct vital tone to deliver a very important message. Ultimately, this message would reach out to the American people as a whole, not only for remembrance of the people who lost their lives, but also as a plan of action for what would lie ahead.
a series of deliberate and deadly terrorist acts. The victims were in airplanes or in their offices – secretaries, businessman and women, military and federal workers. Moms and dads, friends and neighbors. Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by, despicable acts of terror. The pictures of airplanes flying into buildings fires burning, huge structures collapsing have filled us with disbelief, terrible sadness and a quiet unyielding anger.
September 11, 2001 was one of the most devastating and horrific events in the United States history. Americans feeling of a secure nation had been broken. Over 3,000 people and more than 400 police officers and firefighters were killed during the attacks on The World Trade Center and the Pentagon; in New York City and Washington, D.C. Today the term terrorism is known as the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives (Birzer, Roberson). This term was clearly not defined for the United States for we had partial knowledge and experience with terrorist attacks; until the day September 11, 2001. At that time, President George W. Bush, stated over a televised address from the Oval Office, “Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. These acts shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.” President Bush stood by this statement for the United States was about to retaliate and change the face of the criminal justice system for terrorism.
On September 11, 2001, many people’s lives were changed. Not only Americans, but Muslims and Islamist alike, were affected. (A Nation Challenged 80). Family members and friends were lost, lives were taken away, and New York City was torn to pieces. Two planes hit the Twin Towers, otherwise known as the World Trade Center. One plane was flown into the Pentagon located in Virginia. One last plane was flown into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania after being taken over by the passengers. The nineteen men who hijacked these planes were from the Islamist militant group known as al-Qaeda. (The 9/11 Commission Report). An editorial in the New York Times said, “It was one of those moments in which history splits, and we define the world as ‘before’ and ‘after’.”
The worst terrorist attack in U.S history occurred on September 11, 2001. According to U.S government officials, nineteen men hijacked four fuel-loaded commercial planes with the intent to destroy the World Trade Center in New York City, as well as both the Pentagon and the White House in Washington D.C. The attacks began at 8:46am ET when American Airline’s Flight 11 struck the North tower of the World Trade Center, causing chaos on the streets below. Not even twenty minutes later, another commercial plane, United Airlines Flight 175, struck the south tower. Americans and people all over the world watched helplessly as the action on the East Coast unfolded. Any American old enough to remember can most likely tell you exactly where he or she was at the moment of the attacks. Whether we watched the terror in New York City on a television screen or experienced it first-hand, the sight of the initial impact of the planes on the World Trade Center, of bodies falling from the highest floors of the towers, and of chaos on the streets is truly unforgettable. Following the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane, American Airline’s Flight 77, hit the side of the Pentagon building in Washington D.C. Citizens of Washington were shocked, knowing that the terror unfolding in New York was not the only matter of worry. While our nation’s capital dealt with a crisis in its own city, the trouble in New York City was still at large. At 9:59am ET, the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed, creating a cloud of debris large enough to cover the entire city. The north tower followed suite around thirty minutes later, but before that, it was reported that a fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, had crashed in a fie...
Following the 9/11 attacks, the United States came together with a staunch promise to “never forget” that day’s atrocities. Congressmen from opposing parties reached across the aisle and stood arm in arm at the Capitol to show their commitment to this pledge. But,when another terrorist attack had stunned New York City a century earlier, this promise did not exist. In 1920, a bombing on Wall Street rattled the city’s financial core and earned the title as the city’s worst terrorist attack until 2001. The assault came merely two years after the US debuted as a global superpower with World War 1’s end. Despite the attack on this newfound American identity, the bombing never found closure for proving for the first time that the US was not invincible.
In a Boston Phoenix article published on September 6th, 2002, and entitled “A Lot To Learn,” David Brudnoy discusses the aftermath of 9/11. Brudnoy claims that Americans believed the impact of that disastrous day would bring even greater prosperity. He belittles the people of America as too desperate and too easily consoled by the government officials in New York and Washington D.C. after 9/11. Brudnoy believes that the phrase “war on terrorism” was not an accurate definition to use and that in fact our government should have taken action against all Muslims, not just Osama bin Laden and his minions. He further argues that Americans have taken for granted the changes since 9/11 and have tried to forget about the attacks. He opines that people have become too weak in the aftermath, living in constant fear of another terrorist
It’s a normal day at work when suddenly there is an explosion, trapping hundreds of people inside collapsing buildings covered in rubble. Coworkers, friends, and family are gone, never to be seen again, lost to senseless acts of terrorism. In 1993, 1998, and 2000, these events came to pass in the form of terrorist bombings on U.S. targets across the globe. The World Trade Center complex was a symbol of wealth and prosperity, but quickly became the target for radical Muslims and was attacked early in 1993. Despite this attack, the American people did not think that the terrorist organization behind the attack, al-Qaeda, was much of a threat, failing to properly respond to the attack and prepare for the future. Five years later and across the globe, another bombing occurred. This attack targeted the U.S. embassies in the African countries of Kenya and Tanzania. Again, the U.S. was distracted from the incident and did not react in a proper manner. Finally, in 2000, the U.S. was again subjected to a terrorist attack, this time on a naval warship docked in Yemen. The country again looked on in horror as the unthinkable happened, leaving people to again question their safety. Although these attacks on American targets were devastating, the United States should have learned from its mistakes to better prepare and defend against the September 11th attacks.
On September 1, 2001, terrorists associated with the Al-Qaeda hijacked four airliners and carried out suicide attacks against the United States that forever impacted American’s lives. It was the deadliest event in U.S. history for first responders: 343 firefighters and 72 policemen were killed. In addition, 2,996 civilians were killed, and it led to over $3 trillion in total costs. The attacks explained by the cause of the attacks, the description of the attack, and the impact it had on the U.S.
Host: On September the 11th 2001, the notorious terror organisation known as Al-Qaeda struck at the very heart of the United States. The death count was approximately 3,000; a nation was left in panic. To this day, counterterrorism experts and historians alike regard the event surrounding 9/11 as a turning point in US foreign relations. Outraged and fearful of radical terrorism from the middle-east, President Bush declared that in 2001 that it was a matter of freedoms; that “our very freedom has come under attack”. In his eyes, America was simply targeted because of its democratic and western values (CNN News, 2001). In the 14 years following this pivotal declaration, an aggressive, pre-emptive approach to terrorism replaced the traditional
When a giant explosion ripped through Alfred P. Murrah federal building April 19,1995, killing 168 and wounding hundreds, the United States of America jumped to a conclusion we would all learn to regret. The initial response to the devastation was all focused of middle-eastern terrorists. “The West is under attack,”(Posner 89), reported the USA Today. Every news and television station had the latest expert on the middle east telling the nation that we were victims of jihad, holy war. It only took a few quick days to realize that we were wrong and the problem, the terrorist, was strictly domestic. But it was too late. The damage had been done. Because America jumped to conclusions then, America was later blind to see the impending attack of 9/11. The responsibility, however, is not to be placed on the America people. The public couldn’t stand to hear any talk of terrorism, so in turn the White House irresponsibly took a similar attitude. They concentrated on high public opinion and issues that were relevant to Americans everyday. The government didn’t want to deal with another public blunder like the one in Oklahoma City. A former FBI analyst recalls, “when I went to headquarters (Washington, D.C.) later that year no one was interested in hearing anything about Arab money connections unless it had something to do with funding domestic groups. We stumbled so badly on pinpointing the Middle East right off the bat on the Murrah bombing. No one wanted to get caught like that again,”(Posner 90). The result saw changes in the counter terrorism efforts; under funding, under manning, poor cooperation between agencies, half-hearted and incompetent agency official appointees and the list goes on. All of these decisions, made at the hands of the faint-hearted, opened the doors wide open, and practically begged for a terrorist attack. So who’s fault is it? The public’s for being
First shock, then terror, followed by sorrow and lastly rage were my emotions on September 11th, 2001 when a hijacked airliner crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City. Tunh! Tunh! Tunh! All circuits are busy; please try again at a later time. This message kept repeating as I tried to call my cousin in New York, who was working in the South Tower. At the time the American Airlines flight 11 just moments earlier crashed into the North Tower. I sat in my house in shock and terror. Then at 9:05 am, about twenty minutes after the first collision, United Airlines flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. I began to feel the knot in my throat getting tighter and tighter until I just finally began crying. I still didn’t have any word from my cousin and when both of the buildings plummeted to the streets below, I thought for sure he was dead. When I returned home, my mother informed me that he had gotten out before the buildings went down. Turning on the television was another ordeal in itself. All of the news stations repeatedly exhibited the buildings plunging to the ground. I felt extreme sorrow for the families of those who had not made it out alive. They had to relive that horrible moment over and over again. I was also outraged. How could such an act be committed on American soil? The only way we can answer this question is to look at the terrorists who could do such an act and what possible reasons they have for doing it.
In the 12 years since the terrorist attacks on the world trade towers in New York city, thousands of hours of research and interviews has been conducted, scores of books have been written, and countless documentaries and films have been produced in an effort to help us understand how and why terrorists were able to carry out the massacre of nearly 3500 people. Despite the plethora of religious and nonreligious beliefs represented by the friends and family of those who died, one universal belief binds them all: the belief that an unspeakable act of cruelty has changed our nation and our people for all time. The name ascribed to this act of terrorism is debated widely. Some call it evil. Others call it nothing more than supreme cruelty.
The USA Patriot Act of 2001 (Pub. L. No. 107-56, 115 Stat. 272) expanded a number of exceptions to the traditional search warrant requirements. Ordinarily a person subject to a search warrant is entitled to notice that it was issued. The USA Patriot Act allows magistrates to issue what are often referred to as “sneak and peak” warrants that do not require law enforcement to notify the person subject to the search. The act also expanded the abilities of law enforcement to install “roving” wiretaps of telecommunication devices used by individual suspects without naming specific telephone carriers in the warrant. It also allowed officers to search stored e-mail and voicemail