Taking liberties : the war on terror and the erosion of American democracy / Susan N. Herman.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Herman, Susan N.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Terrorism--Prevention--Law and legislation--United States.

Terrorism.

Internal security--United States.

Internal security.

Detention of persons--United States.

Detention of persons.

Electronic surveillance--United States.

Electronic surveillance.

Civil rights--United States.

Civil rights.

War and emergency powers--United States.

War and emergency powers.

War on Terrorism, 2001-2009.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (297 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, USA, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"Since 9/11, the U.S. government has acted in a variety of ways--some obvious, some nearly invisible--to increase its surveillance and detention power over American citizens and residents. While most of us have made our peace with the various new restrictions on our civil liberties after 9/11, we have done it without really understanding what those restrictions are or the extent of their reach. Moreover, we tend to think that if the national security state overreaches, we shouldn't worry--the courts will come to the rescue and rein it in. In Taking Liberties, Susan Herman explains how this came to be. Beginning in late 2001, the Bush Administration undertook a series of measures, some of which were understandable and valid given the context, to expand federal surveillance authority. Yet as she shows through a series of gripping episodes involving ordinary Americans, they overreached to the point eroding basic constitutional liberties. Herman spells out in vivid detail why all Americans should be worried about the governmental dragnet that has slowly and at times imperceptibly expanded its coverage over the American public. The erosion of civil liberties doesn't just impact immigrants, Americans of Middle Eastern descent, or Guantanamo detainees, but any American who appears to be engaging in provocative political activity. Taking Liberties is a wake-up call for all Americans, who remain largely unaware of the post-9/11 surveillance regime's insidious and continuing growth"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Machine generated contents note:

Introduction

PART I: DRAGNETS AND WATCHLISTS

Chapter 1 The Webmaster and the Football Player

The Material Support Dragnet

The Football Player

The Material Support and Material Witness Dragnets

Chapter 2. "Foreign Terrorist Organizations," Humanitarians,

and the First Amendment

The Iranian Democrat

Peacemakers and Humanitarians

Chapter 3. Charity at Home

The Campaign against Charities

Collateral Damage to Freedom of Religion and Association

Chapter 4 Traveling with Terror

Watching the Watchlists

Security Theater?

The Rights of Others

Chapter 5 Banks and Databanks

Financial Institutions as TIPSters

Watchlists and the Private Sector

Does It Work?

Collecting the Dots

Why Should I Care? - Privacy and Democracy

PART II - SURVEILLANCE AND SECRECY

Chapter 6 Gutting the Fourth Amendment

The Fourth Amendment and Terrorism

"Foreign" Intelligence Surveillance, Americans, and the Patriot Act

Mayfield v. United States Part II

The Secret Court and the One-Sided Litigation

A Job for Congress and the Courts

Chapter 7 The Patriot Act and Library/Business Records

American Librarians

Judicial Fumbling

Third Party Records and the Fourth Amendment

Reconsidering the "Library Provision"

Chapter 8 Gagging the Librarians

The Library Connection

Other Librarian Tales

Chapter 9 John Doe and the National Security Letter

Why National Security Letters?

John Doe and Victor Marrero

Loosening the Gag

Fourth Amendment Rights for NSL Recipients

First Amendment Rights for Internet Users

The Inspector General Expos{copy}℗♭s 2007-2010

National Security Letters, the Fourth Amendment, and Congress

Chapter 10 The President's Surveillance Program

In the Halls of the Department of Justice

The Rubber Stamp Congress

Closing the Courthouse Doors

Post-FAA Litigation

The Secret Court Strikes Again

"What Else Is It That We Don't Know?"

PART III: RESTORING CHECKS AND BALANCES

Chapter 11 American Democracy - The President, the Congress, and the Courts

The View from the Oval Office - From Bush to Obama and Beyond

The Sleeping Watchdog

Secrecy and the Courts

The Eclipse of the Courts

Conclusion

Ordinary Americans

Restoring Balance.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on metadata supplied by the publisher and other sources.

ISBN:

1-283-29697-7

9786613296979

0-19-978275-X

OCLC:

756484259