Counterterrorism and the Erosion of Civil Liberties
This paper shall examine the extent to which the United States government has the right to curtail liberties outlined in the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. By considering the current powers allowed to government agencies as well as proposed methods of expanding that power, this paper will illustrate that any attempt to fight terrorism cannot succeed if the extent of the battle is waged on civil liberties. The government already possesses wide powers for combating terrorism but uses them ineffectively at best; the government should not be permitted to obtain more power, especially without the oversight of the public.