The War on Terrorism Has Not Compromised Civil Liberties

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The War on Terrorism Has Not Compromised Civil Liberties

In the wake of 9/11, the United States of America began to fight a war on terrorism. Many in this country would say we actually started a war against ourselves. One argument is the war on terrorism has begun to erode our civil liberties. Have our civil liberties really been abused or have they been slightly altered by the Patriot Act to protect all Americans best interests? To fully protect Americans from future terrorist attacks monitoring, the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force, and the Patriot Act have been essential components.

Many complain the war on terrorism has invaded their right to privacy. People are worried their phone conversations and internet use are being monitored. The truth is only those suspected of terrorists acts are being closely monitored by the government. The fact is we need military tribunals, detention programs, monitoring of internet and phone activity and attorney-client conversations to protect all Americans from future terrorists attack (Ashcroft). Any person being monitored by the government is told before hand. For example; an inmate who's attorney-client conversation is being closely monitored know they are being overheard and can only be prosecuted for information pertaining to terrorism or future terrorist attacks. According to John Ashcroft monitoring conversations is one of the many steps needed to fight terrorism.

Immigrants fear deportation from the United States and feel their rights have been violated since 9/11. Our government has instilled this fear by passing the Patriot Act. "The Patriot Act flowed from a draft bill circulated by the Department of Justice in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks" (Byr...

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...e Senate Judiciary Committee. He said to scare the American people into losing their liberties only aids the terrorists, "for they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve” (Davies).

Works Cited

* Ashcroft, John. "The War on Terrorism Has Not Eroded Civil Liberties." Civil Liberties: Opposing Viewpoints. Ed. Auriana Ojeda. New York: Greenhaven Press, 2004.

* Byrd, Robert C. Losing America. pgs: 45-49 New York: W.W. Norton and Company, 2004.

* Davies, Frank. "Civil Liberties: Ashcroft Defends U.S. antiterror tactics." Detroit Free Press. 7 December 2001. 6 November 2004. <http://www.freep.com/news/nw/ash7_20011207.htm>.

* Hannity, Sean. Let Freedom Ring. pg: 133 New York: Regan Books, 2002.

* Hendrickson, David C., and Robert W. Tucker. "The Sources of American Legitimacy." Foreign Affairs. New York: 2004.

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