No Greater Threat: America After September 11 and the Rise of a National Security State

Includes review and analysis of: Homeland Security Act, "PATRIOT Act II," Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act, Supreme Court decisions, "National Strategy" documents, 9-11 Commission recommendations, and variousongoing developments nationally and internationally in the "war on terrorism."Did America's proud history of civil liberties come tumbling down on September 11? In this searing analysis of the US Patriot Act the author seeks to start a different, parallel dialog about the "war on terrorism," to prevent it becoming a war on ourselves and a war on the Constitution. A wake-up call for Americans concerned with preserving our nation's values. No Greater Threat: America After September 11, and the Rise of a National Security State examines the prospect that America (with the Congress and the Executive Branch in the lead) may be transforming itself into a national security culture.The book identifies and examines 12 common characteristics of a national security state, and discusses how those characteristics are being fulfilled today (in some instances in an accelerated manner).The book includes a meticulous description of each of the ten parts of the USA PATRIOT Act (which is often discussed, but seldom explained) and shows why the Act ranks as one of the most significant pieces of legislation in many years the Act grants broad powers to Federal investigators in surveillance, intelligence, prosecution, and inter-agency information sharing; and most of its provisions have no "sunset" but are permanent.The book is a readable review, in plain and common sense language, of the Act's scope and breadth. A final section makes general observations on the long-term concepts of "security" versus "peace," and offers ways in which the reader can be involved in the issues.This is the most detailed analysis of the USA PATRIOT Act and illustrates why patriotic Americans should be concerned (if not alarmed) by this country s potential move into a national security state.