The war on terrorism has not compromised civil libertiesIn the aftermath of September 11, the United States of America began waging a war against terrorism. Many in this country would say that we have actually started a war against ourselves. One argument is that the war on terror has begun to erode our civil liberties. Have our civil liberties really been violated or have they been slightly modified by the Patriot Act to protect the best interests of all Americans? To fully protect Americans from surveillance from future terrorist attacks, the Foreign Terrorist Tracking Task Force and the Patriot Act have been essential elements. Many complain that the war on terror has violated their right to privacy. People fear that their phone conversations and internet use will be monitored. The truth is that only people suspected of terrorist acts are closely monitored by the government. The fact is that we need military courts, detention programs, monitoring of Internet and telephone activity, and attorney-client conversations to protect all Americans from future terrorist attacks (Ashcroft). Anyone under government surveillance is informed in advance. For example; a detainee whose attorney-client conversation is closely monitored knows he is being overheard and can only be prosecuted for information relating to terrorism or future terrorist attacks. According to John Ashcroft, conversation monitoring is one of many measures needed to combat terrorism. Immigrants fear being deported from the United States and believe their rights have been violated since 9/11. Our government sowed this fear by passing the Patriot Act. "The Patriot Act stems from a bill circulated by the Department of Justice following the terrorist attacks of September 11" (Byr...... middle of paper ......th Senate Judiciary Committee He said Scaring the American people into losing their freedoms only helps terrorists, "because they erode our national unity and diminish our resolve" (Works Cited* Ashcroft, John). terrorism has not eroded civil liberties." Liberties: Opposing Views. Ed. Auriana Ojeda. New York: Greenhaven Press, 2004.* Byrd, Robert C. Losing America, pages: 45-49 New York: WW. Norton and Company, 2004.* Davies, Frank “Civil Liberties.”: Ashcroft Defends America's Counter-Terrorism Tactics." Detroit Free Press. December 7, 2001. November 6, 2004. .* Hannity, Sean. Let Liberty Ring. p.: 133 New York: Regan Books, 2002.* Hendrickson, David C. and Robert W. Tucker. “The Sources of American Legitimacy.” new York: 2004.