The United States and the US Patriot Act of 2011
The United States is a democratic country that was established on that ideal; in fact, the world refers to it as the biggest and best democracy there is. Other countries look to it as an example of how to live by the ideals of independence. The adoption and dependence on the idea of the rule of law is a crucial component of a democratic system of government. On the basis of this idea, the United States has passed numerous laws throughout history and more recently, including the US Patriot Act of 2011. The act was signed into law by the then President of the United States George W Bush after several deliberations and ratification by US legislators. The Act can be vividly described as an antiterrorism law. It contains detailed provisions for countering terror actions in the U.S.A. The law was enacted to effect certain drastic and remarkable changes in the US law enforcement in its fight against local and global terrorism. Upon the enactment of the Act, the U.S. Department of Justice, the national security agency, and members of other federal government law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally were authorized with the needed prowess to carry out counter-terrorism activities. The provision of the law removed all forms of barriers that previously created a block between law enforcements, defense, and intelligence organizations in America. It removed all provisions that denied the sharing of counter-terrorism information between these agencies. (Evans 22-33).The law also features strict border controls and ensure the enactment of legislation the prevent money laundering, hence reducing the access of terrorist and terrorist organizations to funds required to run their operations, (Rueda 55). The introduction of the Patriot Act of 2001 was considered as a step in the right direction for dealing with the massive threats posed by terrorist organizations in the United States. One of the most remarkable features of the Act was the removal of information barriers between the United States' federal law enforcement agencies provide rapid availability of needed information required to counter terrorism.
The 9/11 Attacks and the Need for the Patriot Act
The Act was signed in response to the famous 9/11 terrorist attacks that were carried out in the United States by the world-renowned terror organization Al Qaeda. The attack was the biggest most successful attack by external forces in the homelands of the United States. It was carried out by the hijacking of four aircraft, and the intention was to crash the planes into specific targets in the United States. Sadly, three out of the four hijacked planes were able to hit their target, leading to the death of 2,996 people with over 6,000 thousand injured, and records show that it attack resulted in the loss of over $10bn. Irrespective of the enormous consequences of these Al Qaeda-led attacks, many experts have claimed that the attacks could have been averted if there were better coordination and synergy between the U.S law enforcement agencies. There were claims that some government law enforcement agents had already gotten intelligence on the hijackers. However, such information was not shared with federal airport security, hence the need for the enactment of the United State Patriot Act of 2001. (Evans 22-33)
Pros and Cons of the Patriot Act
The adoption of the Patriot Act of 2001 has raised a couple of observations by national and international political analysts as to the particular position of the law. Hence, based on this analysis, there have several cons and pros that have been associated with the act in recent times. Therefore the study shall start by looking at the pros of the Patriot Act of 2001. The introduction of Act led to ease of surveillance; it allowed organizations to have more access to the information required to tackle acts of terrorism. The law has also provided lots of assistance to law enforcement. With the introduction of the law, all factors impeding the investigations into terrorists were removed. It was the notion of many citizens that the American government has the legal right to investigate any person or institution suspected to have links with terrorist organizations; however, the reverse was the case before the introduction of the Patriot Act of 2001, (Howell 24).
Other benefits provided by the signing of the law were the enablement of speedy investigations. The act allowed the government surveillance to overcome all forms of natural barriers and those that were posed by human beings. The introduction Act provided the speed which is a primary requirement of all counter-terrorism investigations. It also ensured the need for and the introduction of increased measures of security. The bill guarantees the upgrade of technologies of all counter-terrorism organizations hence increasing their levels of efficiencies. With the possibility of more coordination between members of different law enforcement agencies in the United States, the Act offers the potential for prevention of attacks faster than before. The act provided the law enforcement the permission to strike as quickly as soon as they uncover any form of terrorist suspicions. Perhaps a crucial aspect of the benefits of this Act was the introduction of funds to cater to the needs to the victims of terror attacks and provide them with the necessary psychological support. The Act also introduced the need for checks and balances to ensure that none of the new distributed power to law enforcement agencies are corrupted or misused, (Howell 25-26).
There is a need to state that the Patriot Act of 2001 has also witnessed some criticism based on some of the cons associated with the practices and enforcement of the act in recent times. There have been notions that this law has led to the wastage of vital resources. It is believed that the government spends an enormous amount of money tracking criminals when there is a need to spend more resources on the provision of essential amenities for the citizens. The Act has also been criticized for putting too much power in the hands of the government and its law enforcement agents. Hence the government and its agencies could investigate anyone it deems fit without a thorough due process. Over the years since the inception of the Patriot Act of 2001, there have been claims that several people have been unlawfully imprisoned in places such as Guantanamo Bay and the likes. The Act has been said to lead to the forceful accusation of citizens without due process of confirming allegations leveled against such people. Some people have also faulted the method proposed by the law, and some opine that the act allows the use of excessive violence. Lastly, there have been claims that the enactment of the law poses several actions that have violated the freedoms of U.S citizens in a bid to determine their terrorist affiliation status. The move has been condemned because it also tracks American citizens inside and outside the country, (Hamm 34-55).
Conclusion
There is a need to conclude by stating that the Patriot Act of 2001 has distinct effects on the security and safety in the United States. The law has led to the increased speed of detection of acts of terror and helping to curb them quickly before they grow. This situation has led to an increased level of security in the country. Terrorism is one of the menaces faced by our society today; it has resulted in the death and displacement of a lot of people across the globe. The United States has its fair share of terror acts in the past and in recent times. Terrorists perpetrate acts of violence based on religious, political, and other ideologies. The Patriot Act of 2001 is the United States' response to the various forms of violence carried out on its citizens by this group of people. The Act was developed with the intent of eradicating all forms of terror activities in the country. There is a need to emphasize that the Patriot Act has also provided a good number of benefits to American society since its inception in 2001. However, it also has its minor flaws which must be fine-tuned, corrected, and upgraded to ensure better efficiency in its bid to eradicate all forms of terrorist actions and activities in America.
Work Cited
Evans, Jennifer C. "Hijacking civil liberties: The USA PATRIOT Act of 2001." Loy. U. Chi.
LJ 33 (2001): 933.
Hamm, Mark S. "The USA Patriot Act and the politics of fear." Cultural criminology
unleashed (2004): 287-300.
Howell, Beryl A. "Seven weeks: The making of the USA PATRIOT Act." Geo. Wash. L. Rev. 72
(2003): 1145.
Rueda, Andres. "International Money Laundering Law Enforcement & the USA Patriot Act of
2001." Mich. St. U. Det. CLJ Int'l L. 10 (2001): 141.
