Government and Military Surveillance

“Should he have exercised this legal authority? There was certainly a need; we know that there were significant problems in getting quick FISA warrants for the kind of surveillance the President needed to do.”(“Listen and Learn” 1).

There were also questions about the legality of the surveillances and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act makes it legal for the Executive Branch to do just about anything that they feel is necessary. There were no errors in protecting the United States to the best of the government’s abilities. Another overreaction is based on 1984,

“Critics of the program have exaggerated both its scope and intent, preying on Americans fears of “Big Brother” the totalitarian government depicted in George Orwell’s novel 1984. The sensational claims made by many journalists about TTA are uninformed, misleading and irresponsible.”(MacDonald).

This quote clearly relates to 1984, but surveillance is done in a safer and more appropriate manner. Instead of being repressive it is being protective and helpful to the United States citizens. The reactions to military and government surveillance are unnecessary and uninformed. They are based on paranoia and irrational thoughts about totalitarianism.

Government and military surveillance is beneficial for the safety of the American people as well as the rest of the world who may be resisting terrorism. Government and military surveillance is everywhere, but is mainly used to protect America. They both use force and cunning to get their information and store their data secretively and effectively. It is being used more effectively and frequently today as a result of terrorism and the War on Terror. The surveillance used in America is like the surveillance used in 1984 in some ways. American military and government surveillance can be very intrusive like it was in 1984, but not nearly as intrusive as a telescreen or the Thought Police (Orwell). Military and government sureveillance in America is meant to catch terrorists, not to jail their own citizens for thinking poorly of their government. American military and government surveillance is beneficial for the safety of the American people as well as the rest of the world who may be resisting terrorism.