- P. Williams writes in her essay, that the war on terror is a new type of war. What’s new about it, how is it different from traditional wars?
The fear that Americans are not safe creates this narrative that the government can violate human rights for the sake of safety. There is nothing being reported to citizens as to what is happening in battlefields and why the government is taking actions against certain countries. For example the Bush Administration created new laws, orders and policies that gives the American government too much power. Examples of this are, ” the disregard for international treaties and conventions; strict controls on media reports about the war; secret surveillance and searches of citizens* computers; widespread ethnic profiling; indefinite detention of non-citizens; offers of expedited American citizenship to those who provide evidence about terrorists; and military tribunals with the power to try enemies in secret, without application of the usual laws of evidence, without right of appeal, yet with the ability to impose the death penalty.”. These are blatant violations of laws set to protect citizens and people.
- 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 first amendment protects the activities of citizens. The “Roving Wiretaps” suggest that even if someone is not a suspect can too become a suspect and have thing about their intimate lives be known by other people. This reminds me of Snowden’s protest again the government’s overwatch on citizen’s devices and violation of their privacy.
- What about “Sneek and Peek” Warrants?
If a “Sneak and Peek” warrant occurred during the time weed was not legal, somebody who has not connection to the crime that is supposed to be investigated gets caught with weed can now be turned into a suspect simply because they were in possession of such. I don’t exactly think that its overkill but if someone was caught with a gun in the house that’s not registered to protect themselves things like that should be considered minor. This is two sides of the same coin so, if someone is caught for a minor crime it does help make things a little safer but it does not directly lead back to the purpose of the “Sneak and Peek” warrant. The warrant is to find terrorists and espionage. It can be beneficial if someone is genuinely breaking the law but it doesn’t fall under the same category for the purpose of the warrant.
