Reflections Upon The September 11th Terrorist Attacks On America: Civil Liberties Vs. National Security

The impact of the war on terrorism after September 11th can be felt from different dimensions and various conclusions can be reached concerning this event. This thesis is aimed to review the existing literature on the conventional debate on liberty and security, to explore the findings on the public attitude and domestic and international influences after the September 11th attacks. It examines the provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act which was adopted to increase information sharing between intelligence and law enforcement agencies, underscores the implications of their broader investigative scope with respect to the nation's civil liberties. Meanwhile, this paper also focuses on the military and diplomatic efforts taken by the American government to explicate the influences and the American citizens'concern on national security and civil liberties. Great changes have taken place in American domestic society, the presidential power has expanded unprecedentedly and the immigration policy is getting much tougher. Anti-terrorism is the central point of national political policies,which alters the social and moral emotions with the uprising patriotism. The common sense of insecurity in the public makes anti-terrorism become the staple elements of framing the domestic politics and foreign relationships. However, the intentional and continued violation against civil liberties will not only damage the American democracy, but also impede the sustainability of American-type democracy worldwide. It has become obvious that the value of democracy and civil liberties derived from democracy should be upheld regardless of peace time or war time.