No one's saying do away with the laws or forget about them in this circumstance. There are interpretations of any law. Even those I've seen complaining about the threat to civil liberty admit there is precident and case law to back up current actions. It's the idea they fear.
American's overwhelming believe the measures currently being taken are both necessary and just according to a Washington Post poll out today.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...data112801.htm
This poll can also be broken down by sex, race, party, education, age, and region here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac3/ContentServer?pagename=polls&interactive=n& searchPollId=2001331
Here are the highlights regarding civil liberty (it didn't center exactly right, but I think you can get the idea):
11. As it conducts the war on terrorism, do you think the United States government is doing enough to protect the rights of (READ ITEM), or not?
11/27/01
Yes No No opin.
a. Average Americans 81 16 2
b. Arab-Americans and American Muslims 73 19 8
c. Non-citizens from Arab and Muslim
countries who are living in the US 69 22 9
d. People who've been investigated for
suspected involvement in terrorism 71 21 8
12. As part of its terrorism investigation, the federal government says it wants to interview about 5,000 young men from the Middle East who are in the United States on temporary visas. The government says the men are not suspects and the interviews are voluntary. Others say this approach singles out these men unfairly on the basis of their national origin. What's your opinion - do you support or oppose the plan to interview these 5,000 men?
Support Oppose No opin.
11/27/01 79 19 2
13a. SPLIT SAMPLE VERSION A: Do you think non-U.S. citizens who are charged with terrorism should be put on trial (in the regular U.S. criminal court system) or (in a special military tribunal)?
US criminal court system/Military tribunal/No opin.
11/27/01 37 59 4
13b. SPLIT SAMPLE VERSION B: It's been proposed that non-U.S. citizens who are charged with terrorism should be put on trial in a special military tribunal, where trials can be closed to the public, with a military judge and jury, and there's no right to an appeal.
Some people (say this would protect ongoing investigations and avoid the use of civilian jurors who may fear for their lives.) Others (say it would be wrong to let the military conduct closed trials under new rules, and to single out non-citizens this way.)
Do you think non-U.S. citizens who are charged with terrorism should be put on trial (in the regular U.S. criminal court system) or (in a special military tribunal)?
US criminal court system/Military tribunal/No opin.
11/27/01 38 58 4
14. George W. Bush favors the use of special military tribunals. Knowing Bush's position, what do you think - should non-U.S. citizens who are charged with terrorism be put on trial (in the regular U.S. criminal court system) or (in a special military tribunal)?
US criminal court system/Military tribunal/No opin.
11/27/01 34 64 3
15. Do you think it should be legal or illegal for the federal government to wiretap conversations between people who are being held on terrorism charges and their lawyers?
Legal Illegal No opin.
11/27/01 73 24 3
16. The U.S. government is detaining about 600 people in its investigation of the September 11th attacks, most of them for overstaying their visas or otherwise violating immigration laws. Do you think the United States is or is not justified in detaining these people?
Yes No No opin.
11/27/01 86 12 2