After the 9/11 attacks, Bush administration announced that the federal governmen
ID: 376832 • Letter: A
Question
After the 9/11 attacks, Bush administration announced that the federal government would have the option of treating terrorism as either a crime or an act of war. Many Americans did not realize that this option could be applied to American citizens. As the Padilla case highlighted, the president wielded the power to take any American into custody as an enemy combatant terrorist and treat him accordingly — waterboarding, isolation, indefinite incarceration, etc. No jury trial. No Bill of Rights. No Constitution. What is your opinion on this power?
Explanation / Answer
Answer: I feel that up to some extent this power is justified looking into the way in which terrorism has increased and names of some U.S citizens have come up in such incidences. I think that for the U.S citizens there needs to be some relaxation provided in this option like the jury trial should be provided to them and they should have a scope of making an appeal. Therefore despite the fact that this power is required it is also essential that some relaxation is provided so that this power cannot be misused. This power is required for dealing with the acts of terrorism but at the same time it should not be an absolute power.