Reflection of an Interview on Public Opinion of US National Security

The interview went good, for the most part. I got enough information to form an essay and had everything I needed for the rest of the assignments, although

The events that took place on September 11th 2001 have forever changed the United Sates. On that day it was clear that our borders were not secure. Our nation’s security was questioned, and our national security plan, as a result, had to change. President Bush did what he felt was needed at the time, laying out the foundation for a surveillance apparatus, involving the Patriot Act and the National Security Agency. This United States’ surveillance apparatus though, draws a thin line between privacy and security, forcing us to trade our liberty for security. By trading our liberty for security we lose both, and thus, move towards losing our democracy.

The NSA, or National Security Agency, is an American government intelligence agency responsible for collecting data on other countries and sometimes on American citizens in order to defend the country from outside risks. They can gather anything from people’s phone data to their browser history and use it against them in the court of law. Since the catastrophes of the September 11 attacks, the NSA’s surveillance capabilities have grown with the benefit of George W. Bush and the executive branch (Haugen 153). This decision has left a country divided for fifteen years, with people who approve that the NSA should be strengthened and others who think their powers should be limited or terminated. Although strengthening NSA surveillance may help

How would you describe this interview? Did it go well or were there any problems you encountered? Please describe:

The shocking tragedy on September 11, 2001 altered the course of American national security. Prior to the 9/11 attacks, homeland security was rarely debated as a hot topic, even within the small circle of policy elites (Kamarck, 2013, p. 34). The only prior homeland attack on America was Pearl Harbor and this was not on U.S. mainland. Many Americans were shocked that such a tragedy could occur on American soil and they are still shocked to this day. People are still recovering from this tragic event. The government knew that the country’s enemies still posed an enormous threat to the nation’s security. In response to the events that took place on 9/11, the United States Congress passed the USA/Patriot Act, which intensified the surveillance powers held by the federal government through the National Security Agency (NSA) and other federal agencies. This act increased national airport security procedures, metro security in most major U.S. cities, and extended the government’s capacity to spy on citizens.

In society today many citizens feel violated with the security methods taken by homeland security. “On September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States marked the beginning of the global war on terrorism. The methods used are justifiable as they provide protection against possible threats or attacks. This attack on U.S. soil increased surveillance of both American citizens and foreign nationals” (Andrew, C., & Walter,

The United States has increased its surveillance through programs by the National Security Agency that collect and examine data on Internet and communication by Americans. Innocent civilians are tracked in search of international terrorists hence sparked the debate on civil liberties over national security. However, according to Thomas Friedman, there was the need to shift from ‘war on terrorists’ to ‘war on terrorism’

Spying on American citizens is now a common method employed by the government striving to protect the nation from terrorist attacks. Nonetheless, since its incorporation, the Act has been controversial as politicians and citizens alike have argued between the need to keep society safe and abusive powers of the government over its citizens. Although, mandated to serve as

This piece explores the worlds view of the pros and cons of the widely utilized surveyance system, by both the government and private, sometimes criminal individuals. The pros wax long and are many. Most of the public in this piece applaud and even welcome the scrutiny from the government and do not appear to be bothered by it. The perception by most is a sense of security that they are being looked out for, and protected by the law enforcement agencies. The main feeling in this article is, that they feel assured that any criminal activity will be met and justice for any acts of terror be they domestic or foreign be swiftly taken care of.

The issue of the NSA surveillance would not be happening if it was not for the plane crashes of September 11th, 2001, an event that could have been prevented if the government had taken the measures of surveillance it has today. The effectiveness of the NSA’s programming today could have pinpointed the people carrying out the plans to aboard the planes and take control during that time. As an enormous country, it can be helpful to know where threats stand and where they don’t. As President Obama stated in his NSA reformation speech,

​The intimidation of specific groups in the society is reinforced by not only the leaders but also by the people. In a study by the Pew Research Center after the June 23 leaks shows that while most Americans are concerned with the level of privacy and government intrusion, most consider it acceptable if the surveillance is only directed to foreigners as shown in figure 2 (Rainie, n.p).

The past several years have been a turbulent time for the United States. In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in 2001, the American government appears to slowly be transitioning into a police state, with major domestic surveillance programs and a heavily militarized police force. A police state, defined by the Oxford Dictionary, is “A totalitarian state run by means of a national police force, using repressive methods such as covert surveillance and arbitrary arrest and imprisonment to control the population.” While it would be erroneous to call America a totalitarian state, the existence of wide-spread surveillance programs accompanied by the increased power of the American police force, and along with a significant portion of the population

This research paper examined the issue pertaining to the question of National Defense versus American’s civil rights. In this paper I examined the conflict that often occurs between citizens’ rights and national security in the United States (US). I realized through my courses in homeland security, there is often tension between citizens’ rights and US national security. I discovered that many civil liberties have been violated, as they relate to national security. Even though these liberties have been infringed upon before September 11, 2001, it has become a highly debated topic after the events that took place on that date. I used sources, such as the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 impacted the American people without many of them realizing it. The act called for increased monitoring of computer networks, phone lines, and online history inside the United States and allowed the government to deport suspects (ACLU). What was created by the act has snaked its way into all aspects of our lives, creating a sense of order and restricting some freedom. However, some say that this imposition into our daily lives limits our freedoms and actions allowed us by the Constitution. Many interest groups voice strong resentment for the act while others try to demonstrate the strengths and triumphs of the Homeland Security Act. This paper will show the differing viewpoints of those that feel that the

Thesis Statement: “Citizens of this country should value the national security more than their privacy since it is concerned with a much larger group of people in order to protect our country from invaders, to maintain the survival of our country and to prevent airing of criticism of government.”