The face of war has changed in the 21st century, a change that the United States is not totally prepared for. Our new enemies are not citizens of countries, they have no face, and they do not abide by any rules of war. Because of this, there is not a person safe from their attacks, from the President to military personnel to a college student in west Texas as now everyone is a target. They succeed by their element of surprise and their surprising ingenuity in creating their terror. Before someone can propose policy regarding terrorism, we need to begin to understand what incites these people to perpetrate such heinous acts and what they hope to gain by their actions. There are many possible reasons for their actions, some of which may need to be taken into account in order to create policy that is as much protective of the country as it is of the individuals rights. One of their largest concerns may be gaining recognition for their cause, harassing or weakening countries, embarrassing governments by showing an inability to protect its citizens, prevent or delay legislation, and possibly even causing government reaction, overreaction, and possibly repression of its people by overzealously trying to protect them. However, in regards to the United States, changes must be made in the areas of domestic policy, foreign policy, and the military. The United States government faces a strong dilemma when it comes to creating changes in domestic policy. In exchange for better protection of the citizens, the citizens must be willing to also give up or abridge certain rights, the problem being the United States founded on freedom. Another issue is how far are we willing to go to ensure our safety. One idea being pondered is the issuance of a national smart card with detailed information about the carrier. This in itself would make the average American scream an invasion of privacy. However, this card is no worse than a drivers license th...
