The Attack on the Constitution

Political leaders in the United States often refer to the Constitution in reverential tones with a touch of awe. The Founding Fathers, who crafted the document, are lauded for their wisdom and sagacity. But now that very base of the republic is under attack. Using September 11th as a justification, the Bush administration has made unprecedented claims of executive powers including warrantless wiretapping, secret evidence, suspension of the right to a speedy trial, domestic spying and the use of “coercive interrogation,” i.e. torture. Many citizens are worried that civil liberties are being sacrificed in the name of national security.