Product Description
In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, national security concerns have become the focus of the general public and of federal authorities. But some citizens and commentators have criticized the government for using national security as an excuse to curtail civil liberties. Others argue that the gravity of the terrorist threat warrants the increased security measures that have been implemented even if civil liberties must be compromised. Should the government be able to encroach on its citizens' freedoms in the name of national security? Should all citizens be willing to give up some constitutional rights to protect the nation? This timely and balanced discussion by leading experts on the trade-offs between national security and civil liberties is divided into six informative sections addressing the main issues of this crucial debate: The history of civil liberty issues in wartime
Domestic surveillance and the USA PATRIOT Act
Racial profiling
The use of torture in confessions
The designation of "enemy combatants"
PLUS recent developments, such as the Abu Ghraib prison scandal In addition to excerpts from important recent US Supreme Court decisions on these topics, this volume includes selections from such widely recognized and respected authors as Richard Cohen, Alan M. Dershowitz, Viet D. Dinh, David A. Harris, Nat Hentoff, Philip B. Heymann, Aryeh Neier, Christian Parenti, John T. Parry, Eyal Press, Chief Justice William Rehnquist, Stephen J. Schulhofer, Jay Stanley, Barry Steinhardt, Stuart Taylor Jr., Welsh S. White, Frank H. Wu, and John C. Yoo. This intriguing collection of expert opinion from across the political, legal, and philosophical spectrums will appeal to readers interested in determining for themselves the acceptable level of infringement on individual freedom in this vital conflict between civil liberties and national security. |
