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Originally Posted by theking
Conversely what do you think would be effective measures to prevent "terrorism"? Also what civil liberties are being harmed?
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I don't know if there an effective measure against terrorism. It's been a method used quite successfully by partisans since the beginning of recorded history.
However, the civil liberties thing is pretty simple. Let's start with the USA PATRIOT act section 213 and the Fourth Amendment:
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Originally Posted by U.S. Constitution - Fourth Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
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Originally Posted by Analysis of USA PATRIOT act, re: section 213
Authority to Conduct Secret Searches ("Sneak and Peek")
Section 213 eliminates the prior requirement that law enforcement provide a person subject to a search warrant with contemporaneous notice of the search. The new "secret search" provision applies where the court "finds reasonable cause to believe that providing immediate notification of the execution of the warrant may have an adverse effect." Although the Administration's "Field Guidance on New Authorities Enacted in the 2001 Anti-Terrorism Legislation" states that the new authority "is primarily designed to authorize delayed notice of searches," the amendment permits seizure of any tangible property or communications where the court finds "reasonable necessity" for this seizure. The law requires that notice be given within a "reasonable period," which can be extended by the court for "good cause." "Reasonable period" is undefined, and the Administration's Field Guidance advises that this is a "flexible standard."
This significant change in the law applies to all government searches for material that "constitutes evidence of a criminal offense in violation of the laws of the United States" and is not limited to investigations of terrorist activity.
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The USA PATRIOT act has explicitly given law enforcement the ability to quite literally enter your home and to 'investigate', without informing you, with extremely loose definitions of what to look for and why to look for it. Additionally, you need not have any suspicion upon you to be a terrorist, this applies to any suspect in any crime at any time.
Perhaps you feel that cops wandering around your personal space on a bug hunt isn't an abrogation of your rights.