Civil Libertarians Fear Erosion of Rights Following Attacks

Fox News ^ | Sunday, September 16, 2001

[sendtoscott]

More scrutiny at airports. No coolers or backpacks at baseball stadiums. More information-sharing with law enforcement, with or without search warrants.

The suicide attacks on the nation's landmarks have already prompted some sacrifices of personal liberties. So far, Americans seem to be accepting them in the interest of the common welfare.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The mythical "freedom versus security" tradeoff is a false choice.

The WTC attack did not occur because Americans have too much freedom.

It occurred because:

1. U.S. border/immigration policy (or selective enforcement thereof) allowed known terrorists to enter and remain in the country while attending flight school.

2. The terrorists were able to gain access to the cockpits of the hijacked aircraft.

The fact that William Cohen, Dick Gephardt and other statists propound that the only solution to terrorism is to "trade freedom for security" betrays the reality that their true agenda is to curtail freedom.

[Alan Chapman]

The WTC attack did not occur because Americans have too much freedom.

Of course not. But that won't stop the collectivists from using the tragedy to impose more government intrusions.

U.S. border/immigration policy...allowed known terrorists to enter and remain in the country...

Some rather serious accusations. Are you sure that's what you meant to say?

The terrorists were able to gain access to the cockpits of the hijacked aircraft.

All that seperates the passanger cabin from the cockpit is a flimsy plastic door which can easily be kicked in. In Israel, airline pilots enter the cockpit from a seperate entrance. The cockpit is self-contained and not accessible from the passenger cabin. This wouldn't stop somebody from taking hostages or blowing up the plane. But, at least it couldn't be used as a missile.