Question 1

The war on terror is different from traditional wars on a number of fronts, the ultimate goal of terrorism is to hurt innocent people; traditional wars were are fought for varying reasons and when civilians get hurt it is classified as collateral damage as they were never the intended targets. Traditional wars were mainly fought in person using combat soldiers and this would take place at set locations or in the respective countries of the warring factions.

Terrorists have found clever ways to start a war or devastate a country’s economy without physically being there. They can hack and disrupt a country’s critical infrastructures and destabilize governments. So, the difference between traditional wars and the war on terror is the method or the methods by which each is fought. One is fought using foot soldiers, the other can be fought purely using technology. An example of a new form of terrorism which is covered under the term “war on terror” is cyber crime or even a biological war.

Question 2

The roving wiretaps is simply the continuous surveillance of a target even after they have switched or changed the instrument or service on which they were being watched, for example the target may switch a particular service provider if they got wind or realize that they were being surveilled under the previous  provider. The Roving wiretap violates the bill of rights in that it goes against what the bill of rights stands for, it specifically violates the fourth amendment which states “The Fourth Amendment bars the government from unreasonable search and seizure of an individual or their private property.” And this is exactly what the government is doing they without consent or reasonable cause, record and store a person’s conversation without them knowing.

Question 3

A sneek peek warrant is one which gives law enforcement the right to enter an individual’s property without giving prior notice. This again is a bit excessive, again circumstances will dictate such but it too violates directly the 4^th amendment which explicitly is against unreasonable search and seizures.

Question 1

We are bombarded daily with images of a multicultural and unified global community. At home, Americans opposed to the war have been attacked as un-American and anti-democratic. Radio and television stations are broadcasting news and disturbing images. This is a new form of war given that traditional wars involved less communication and public display of military warfare.

Question 2

The Roving Wiretaps infringes the right to privacy by allowing the government access private information without consent or knowledge of the citizens. This act violates the right to privacy as alluded to in the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. constitution.

Question 3

The warrants deny an individual the right to have his or her home searched by the authority without a warrant. There should be consent between authorities and property owners before a house search is made. This evident and clearly described in the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. constitution.

1. P. Williams writes in her essay, that the war on terror is a new type of a war. What’s new about it, how is it different from traditional wars?

According to P. Williams, the author explains that what’s new about war on terror is “A war against terrorism is a war of the mind.” It’s totally different from traditional wars, because it’s not a military organization, they are not part of any governments. In other words the problem here is that the war against terrorism is a war against a civiliian enemy. A terrorist is a civilian who belongs to some kind of a political organization that uses physical violence in order to achieve it’s means, but it’s a civilian organization. It’s not a military organization, they are not part of any governments. 911 is an example of war on terror. So a terrorist can be anyone and anywhere. Not like traditional wars are organized by the government or military organization. 

2. In what ways does the “Roving Wiretaps” of the Patriot Act seem to violate the Bill of Rights? Which amendment(s) does it seem to violate and why?

The Patriot Act Roving Wiretap provision allows  one wiretap authorization to cover multiple devices that eliminate the need for separate court authorization. It violates Fourth and Fifth Amendments. Because the Bill of Rights specifically protects private property. The idea is that the government is not allowed to search anyone’s property without a warrant. To get a warrant the policemen have to show some initial evidence to the judge, and the judge will depend on the explanation to sign a warrant.    

3. What about “Sneek and Peek” Warrants?

“Sneek and Peek” Warrants is allowing the law enforcement enter a private home secretly, also it allow policemen do the searches without anyone at that homes. Moreover they’re allowed to search an empty apartment as well. However, it violates the Fourth Amendment.