Security and Terrorism: Are We Ethically Ready for Another Attack?

The Challenge

Terrorism has become such a common word that it's easy to forget how closely it is associated with fear, an emotion that doesn't always lead to rational decision making. Before there is another attack on the United States, Americans need to consider how to respond in a way that is prudent, ethically defensible, and respectful of other American values besides security.

What's at Stake

While there has been significant disagreement among U.S. political leaders about how best to respond to terrorism, most agree there will be a new terrorist assault on the U.S. homeland. The question is not if, but when. Now is the time to decide what principles should guide us. We don't want to overreact, as we did to the bombing of Pearl Harbor with the creation of internment camps, or, as others have argued, to 9/11 by giving too free a hand to jailers at Guantanamo or Abu Ghraib. We must also avoid overreactions that might bring us into armed conflict with innocent nations or restrict basic freedoms of our own citizens. The best course against terror is the one that makes Americans safer while also remaining true to American values.

Critical Questions

• Are we at war today? If another attack occurs, will we be more at war? Can we be guided by the long-standing tradition of just war theory, or does this new kind of war on terrorism require new principles? What would those be?

• If we are in a position to head off a second terrorist attack, should we use torture? Is there a moral difference between extreme interrogation techniques and torture?

• If another country is inadvertently harboring terrorists, do we have a right to attack that country?

• What does due process look like in fighting terrorists? How far should the circle of suspicion be drawn, and are there limits to the rights of citizens suspected of terrorist connections? What about non-citizens?

• Is there any limit to the amount of resources we should invest in our security? What does it mean to be prudent in the context of a war on terrorism?

November 18, 2004

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