Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
Liberty in Times of War Civil liberties are curtailed during wars. In the recent past during the 9/11 attack American and non-American citizens' civil liberties were infringed. Civil liberties are eroded whenever emergency power is exercised. During war government authorities tend to withhold information. Documents are over-classified and information withheld from the Congress and the general public (Fisher, 2003). After the 9/11 attack President Bush released a memo that limit the disclosure of classified and sensitive law enforcement information. This decision was later reversed on October 5, 2001 (Fisher, 2003). Law enforcement information was later restricted to 8 members of the Congress namely: House Speaker, House Minority Leader, the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders and the chairs and ranking members of the Intelligence Committees. When Bush Administration was about to go into Iraq, Bush declassified satellite photos and released them to the press (Fisher, 2003). The position that the Bush Administration took with regard to interpreting and administering the Freedom of Information Act (FOLA) showed their intention towards withholding information. The AG John Ashcroft issued a guideline to agency heads reminding them of the need to consider sensitive business data and personal privacy as well as is always limited. The Bush Administration after the 9/11 attack acted unilaterally without constitutional checks and balances. Attorney General Ashcroft before the Senate Judiciary Committee on December 6, 2001, bluntly warned that criticism of the Bush Administration works in the advantage of the terrorists (Fisher, 2003). He discouraged people from fear-mongering and pitting Americans against immigrants and citizens against non-citizens. He attributed free speech to tactics that aid terrorist activities. It is very difficult to ascertain how much the quest for national unity discourages public debate and the individual voice. It was lost to him that the executive branch of the government cannot claim monopoly on wisdom (Fisher, 2003). During Senate Judiciary hearings the AG averred that the president's authority to establish military tribunals is anchored on the fact that he is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. Military tribulations are therefore created at the whims of the president and the Congress cannot limit that limitary when the legal and…
References List
Fisher, L. (2001). Zechariah Chafee Jr., Freedom of Speech in War Time. American Constitutional Law, 486-487.
Fisher, L. (December 2, 2001). Bush Can't Rely on the FDR Precedent. L.A. Times, M3.
Fisher, L. (2003). Civil Liberties in Time of War.
http://www.clas.ufl.edu/users/rconley/conferencepapers/Fisher.PDF
However, during war it becomes all too easy to look for convenient ways to disregard even the most important laws. The first, and most dramatic, effect of war is to increase the general fearfulness of a population. Fear and anxiety rocket way up during wartime, and are fueled by all the myriad effects of such conflicts. But another, less-well-understood reaction to war on the part of a both the individual
Fallout A section of commentators have taken issue with the manner in which the federal government denied suspected terrorist the due process of law as stipulated under the constitution. The government even commissioned the establishment of a torture chamber in Guantanamo Bay. This amounts to gross violation of human rights and civil liberties. There is another clause in the patriot act dubbed "enhanced surveillance procedures," which allows federal authorities to gather
War and Peace: The War on Terror The first time "war on terror" was used was in the aftermath of the infamous 9/11 al Qaeda attack. Even though this phrase has been used severally in passing to describe a wide variety of aims, policy guidelines and actions, the major moves made specifically under the direct explanation of the phrase is much more complex than just words. There are two major goals
Books and television shows, such as the Corner, provide illustrations that can give a level of insight as to why this is the case. It is not drugs alone, but also the drug culture and the level of poverty that stands at the heart of the problem. You cannot simply remove drugs from the equation. Even if you confiscate drugs then the street price rises and more drugs are
S. In the later part of 18th century when Britain was ruling the thirteen colonies of North America, the representatives from the thirteen colonies constituted a governing body called Continental Congress. The main objective of this body was to deal with complaints against British government and try to resolve the issues amicably. But as the continued imposition of taxes made the local population literally belligerent against the British government the resistance
War on Terrorism vs. The Bill of Rights Conveniently capitalizing on the fear of another terrorist attack, the United States Department of Defense and other branches of the federal government have erected a series of security measures since September 11. The most notable of these is the so-called USA PATRIOT Act (HR-3162), passed in October of 2001. The whopping acronym stands for "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required