Paper Topic:

Government Expansion for National Security

Government Expansion for National Security

SrA Javier R . Cacho USAF

Axia College of University of Phoenix

ADJ 355 Contemporary Issues in Criminal Justice

Dr . Michael Meraz

July 4 , 2007

Government Expansion for National Security

The terror created by the 9 /11 attacks have resulted not only in national instability but also in a dilemma that affects the very foundation of the state . This dilemma , springing from the desire to preserve , and to a certain extent recover , national security , extends to the realms of the executive , on law enforcement , and

on the intelligence agencies . Ultimately , it touches on the American Constitution itself . In times of war (such as the war on terror ) interpreting the mandate of the constitution , expressed specifically on the extension of the responsibility and power of the executive and on the extension and further promulgation of intelligence and law enforcement , becomes a challenge . In this , these issues shall be addressed . Specifically this shall be divided into the following parts : The post 9 /11 intelligence expansion and dilemma the Patriot Act expansion of the executive during times of war : its constitutional issues and conclusion

Post 9 /11 Intelligence Expansion and Dilemma

Post 9 /11 , fingers started to point on who is truly responsible as well as solutions were sought to defend the homeland from further terrorist attacks . A concrete case of the encounter between the 9 /11 terrorist Ziad Jarrah and Maryland police Trooper Joseph Catalano has stirred enough call for the increase in intelligence activity , both in scope and in breadth . Trooper Catalano , it should be recalled , issued Jarrah a speeding ticket on September 9 , just two days before the ill-fated 9 /11 bombing . At that time , Jarrah was already in intelligence watch list , as German intelligence has already informed American intelligence of the possible relation of Jarrah to Al Qaeda . But local police received no information since it has been customary that local and state police were distinct from federal intelligence and law enforcement . Prior to 9 /11 intelligence and law enforcement were two different things . But , because of the Jarrah-Catalano incident , the issue of extending intelligence work to local and state police has received overwhelming support to the extent that nowadays , the issue is not so much anymore as to whether intelligence work should extend to local police , but as to whether this should be from the bottom-up or from top-to-bottom (Thomson , 2005 , pp 5-7 . This meant either starting with or taking the inputs of local and state police in designing a national counterterrorism program , or making a program that is federally-led , making states and localities adjust to a federal mandate . Both ways , local police is now starting to be redefined as intelligence eyes and ears . This meant an creating an unprecedented method for intelligence and information sharing as well as training law enforcement agencies to develop a mind-set that allows police officials to process and act on information (Thomson , 2005 ,

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But , this top-down versus bottom-up dilemma seems to be less grave...

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