250 word discussion response – Civil Liberties (HLSS508) Andrea
Responses should be a minimum of 250 words and include direct questions. You may challenge, support or supplement another student’s answer using the terms, concepts and theories from the required readings. Also, do not be afraid to respectfully disagree where you feel appropriate; as this should be part of your analysis process at this academic level.
Forum posts are graded on timeliness, relevance, knowledge of the weekly readings, and the quality of original ideas. Sources utilized to support answers are to be cited in accordance with the APA writing style by providing a general parenthetical citation (reference the author, year and page number) within your post, as well as an adjoining reference list.
Respond to Andrea:
Pre-9/11 the intelligence gathering was there but it was not even close to what the country have today. In the United States, the collection of intelligence is obviously within the critical component within the federal government in the war on terrorism. Their first steps were in disrupting terrorist plots and stopping terrorist attacks bu obtaining information of the operations of the terrorist group. However, sometimes the information is too late or they pushed to the back burner because it did not seem as a reliable source. The gain intelligence information in and outside of the country. Before the attacks of 9/11 there were many changes of the federal law but it always was interpreted to the limited ability of intelligence investigators. This put a hindrance in communication from the federal law enforcement officials to share information of terrorism related information to other law enforcement officer in the intelligence community. Before there was a wall that was between the intelligence officials and law enforcement in sharing vital information and coordination which at times became frustrating. I saw first hand during the 9/11 attacks and then with the Navy Yard Shooting in Washington DC. Too any agencies and the federal government tried to take over and over rule the other agencies that was there. Too many times on that scene law enforcement officials were about to shoot each other because it was too many of us in there at one time. The state, local and some federal agencies are left in the open without no information giving to them.
After the attacks on September 11th, it sent the government into a panic mode. They hurried up and passed the USA/Patriot Act. It wasn’t even finish completely. They just wanted something etched in stone to start off with. It happen overnight it seemed. With the revisions of the surveillance laws of the country. This gave the government the opportunity to spy on their own citizens, while handling and trying to reduce the checks and balances of those who were apart of the judicial, public accountability and to challenge the government searches in the high courts. Congress were bullied into passing the law. Because they were threaten by the Bush Administration that if they did not vote on this to pass that any other attacks against the country would be on their hands and it would be their fault. However, we had the Anthrax attacks, if I could remember I think they tried to blame that on the federal government. The Patriot Act in record searches help expand the government ability in looking at the records on individuals activities that were being held by 3rd parties. It allows and expands the government to search private properties without the owner consent or notice. The 4th amendment which was created for the collection of foreign intelligence information gathering. The trace and trap searches it help expand the 4th amendment in spying that collects information that address the origin and destination of communications. I believe that the judicial review decreased because they said from the beginning that these practices were against the law and it was unconstitutional and it violates that constitution in many ways. The Department of Homeland Security created fusion centers for law enforcement agencies around the United States. However, some people think that they were controversial. Many questions were raised when they started about how effective they would be in securing the nation from terrorist attacks from homegrown and outside threats. The post 9/11 fusion centers in my sight needs more information from the federal government on the intelligence sharing of possible threats on that state or city. They need improvement when it comes to this. Total is the United States there are over 78 fusion centers that is from small offices to massive centers that hold over 250 officers, agents and their analysts. I don’t think think it improved because there are information that they are not sharing with the local, state and tribal agencies. And then they would say we (local, state and tribal) dropped the ball and how could we let this happen.
For it it to be successful and effective the democratic nation they have to be prospective as well as retrospective. They have to have oversight of the before the facts of the pressed intelligence collection efforts in the pursuit in surveillance. In addition, the after the fact is the oversight in the operational conduct in the pursuant of determining the legality of intelligence operations here and overseas. It shows the before and after the event and it shows the accountability of the officials.