Suppressing Dissent At Home, Fighting for Freedom Abroad?

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As the United States embarks on a campaign against international terrorism abroad, it is important that we carefully consider what such a conflict could mean for our freedoms here at home. Wars often give rise to conditions of secrecy and suppression of dissent that are antithetical to democracy. Pro-war commentators have been merciless in their attacks on the few vocal dissenters from the Bush administration's anti-terrorism campaign, describing dissenters as a "cult of national suicide," describing them as "fifth column" allies of Osama bin Laden, and calling for action to suppress "anti-American rallies" on college campuses.