November 19, 2001 ALERT |
Stop Terrorism...
cancel Civil Liberties? Under the urgency of war, the Scowcroft panel will recommend that the Pentagon's three largest intelligence-collection agencies be transferred to the director of central intelligence. This would be a major restructuring of the USA intelligence community. According to recommendations of the plan, the National Reconnaissance Office, which develops, builds and manages intelligence satellite systems, the National Imagery and Mapping Agency, which handles imagery intelligence systems and mapping, and the National Security Agency, which is responsible for electronic intercepts, would each come under the control of the CIA director. President Bush last week signed a bill to Provide Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (Patriot), the USA Patriot Act. It gives the government a freer hand to conduct searches, detain or deport suspects, eavesdrop on Internet communications, monitor financial transactions and obtain electronic records on individuals. The administration promised to crack down on immigration violations. Under pressure, the State Department agreed to slow the granting of visas to Arab and Muslim males, ages 16 to 45, from 25 countries so the FBI and the Immigration and Naturalization Service can conduct security checks. Attorney General John D. Ashcroft announced that he is reorganizing the Justice Department and FBI to concentrate on terrorism. The Justice Department will listen to conversations of lawyers and their clients in federal custody whenever it's deemed necessary to prevent violence or terrorism. Civil Liberties A growing chorus on the political left and the right is accusing the Bush administration of ignoring civil liberties. The latest focus of the debate is an order signed by President Bush this week that empowers him to order military trials here and abroad for international terrorists and their collaborators and that the FBI questioned 5,000 foreign nationals who recently entered the country; and made visits to hundreds of college campuses to check on the records of foreign students, mostly from Middle Eastern countries; and that foreign business people are being delayed from normal business with the US for background checking. Americans must never ignore the rights of citizens and of foreigners in our country. While it is true that there is a declaration of war against terrorism, civil rights abuses must not become a way of solving problems. More: watch dog organizations |
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