Debate Over Impact of Antiterrorism Measures on Civil Liberties

September 25, 2001

Source: The New York Times

On September 25, 2001, The New York Times published the editorial "Liberties In a Time Of Fear." Dr. David Cole of Georgetown University Law Center noted, "We must resist antiterrorism measures that we would not be willing to impose uniformly. Airport security measures imposed on all travelers, for example, are likely to reflect a proper balance between security and freedom, because we all have a stake in maintaining that balance. But measures selectively targeted at particular groups or individuals are more subject to abuse. What's more, guilt by association and ethnic profiling encourage sloppy intelligence gathering and impede security efforts."