NATIONAL SECURITY

National security



National security

On April 15, 1995, terrorists (Terry Nichols and Timothy McVeigh) parked a Ryder truck filled with explosives in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  These terrorists detonated a bomb killing 168 people including 19 children under the age of six. It also injured more than 680 people. Before 911, the Oklahoma City bombing was the most destructive act of terrorism committed on American soil. This bombing caused 652 million dollars worth of damage. As a result of the bombing the United States government passed the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, which tighten the standards for habeas corpus in the United States.

Like on February 26, 1993 when a terrorist drove a van in the garage below the north tower of the World Trade Center in New York City.  The detonation of the bomb was intended to kill thousands of people. Fortunately, only thousands were injured along with six killed. In 1996, on July 27, terrorist bombed the Centennial Olympic Park in Atlanta, Georgia killing two people and wounding 110.

No matter the numerous times terrorist have committed crimes against America, there has never been a more heinous act committed on American soil by a terrorist than September 11, 2001. Terrorist flew two Jumbo jets into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City killing thousands of people and injuring thousands more.  There was also a third jet that was crashed into the Pentagon in Virginia, killing 125 people. A fourth jet was hijacked and heading for Washington, D.C.  However, American passengers banded together to apprehend the terrorist before they could carry out their orders and the plane crashed in Pennsylvania killing the 40 passengers and four hijackers.

Due to September 11, 2001, the American government has stepped up its security measures. The United States government is one the leading super powers in the world. So, when they began to tighten up on its security and monitoring who they let in or out of the country, a lot of speculation rose. Security at airports, train stations, bus stations, borders, and subway stations was put on high alert. They were on the lookout for anything and anyone who may pose a threat to the American people. People's personal lives were being invaded. The American people were not comfortable with the way they were being treated in their own country by their own government.

This made the topic of individual privacy versus national security a hot issue. The issue is how much privacy should be given up to be safe and secure from attacks from terrorist. Currently, the government has gained access to monitor calls, mailings, internet usage, to conduct on-the-spot identification checks, setup face profiling systems, and tighten immigration limitations.  The government has created a “big brother” type world, with more to come on the horizon. Nothing is or will be private anymore.  This is a direct result of the attacks of September 11, ...