The Aftermath of September 11

The tragedy that occurred on September 11, 2001 cost thousands of people their lives in a brutal assault on the American people and the American form of government. We mourn the loss of these innocent lives and insist that those who perpetrated these acts be held accountable.

While some have cast the terrible situation we find ourselves in today as one in which we must decide what liberties we are willing to sacrifice for an increased measure of safety that is not an accurate or helpful analysis. Before asking what trade-offs are constitutional, we must ask what gain in security is accomplished by restrictions on civil liberties.

All Americans must now carefully examine the steps our country needs to take to reduce the risk of future terrorist attacks. We need to consider proposals calmly and deliberately with a determination not to erode the liberties and freedoms that are at the core of the American way of life. The actions taken by our government should uphold the principles of a democratic society, accountable government and international law, and all decisions must be made in a manner consistent with the Constitution. If we work towards these ideals, we can reconcile the requirements of security with the demands of liberty.

Attorney General Calls for Review of Detention Laws

After the arrests in Britain, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales directed the Justice Department’s Office of Legal Counsel to conduct a “side-by-side” comparison of British and United States anti-terrorism laws, including the British preventive detention statute – with a view toward proposing new legislation of amendments to U.S. laws. The New York Times, “In Wake of Plot, Justice Dept. Will Study Britain’s Terror Laws,” Eric Lichtblau, August 15, 2006.

For more information, see CNSS Director Kate Martin’s article "Preventive Detention of Immigrants and Non-Citizens in the United States since September 11th", Refuge, Volume 20, Issue No. 4 (August, 2002).

Click on the links below for more about the aftermath of 9/11.

• In Defense of Freedom (IDOF) groups and statement, September 2001
• Information on the USA PATRIOT ACT
• Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003 or "PATRIOT II"
• Secret arrests and detentions
• The military commissions controversy

• Statement in Opposition to the Military Commissions

• "Enemy combatants" - Jose Padilla and Yasser Hamdi
• Government surveillance

• Groups' Statement of Concern about Anti-Terrorism Measures
• Changes in Law Enforcement/Domestic Intelligence Authorities Since September 11, 2001

• 9/11 Commission, Domestic Intelligence, and the "Wall"
• U.S. v. Moussaoui: Center's Amicus Brief in Support of the Decision Permitting Prosecution while Protecting Due Process