Post Tuesday, SWAT teams can now be used to go after suspect Arab Americans or, indeed, anyone who might be guilty of terrorism, a word without legal definition {how can you fight terrorism by suspending habeas corpus since those who want their corpuses released from prison are already locked up?}. But in the post-Oklahoma City trauma, Clinton said that those who did not support his draconian legislation were terrorist coconspirators who wanted to turn America into a safe house for terrorists.
After a recent legislative change, SWAT teams now have the authority to pursue suspects based solely on the broad and undefined notion of terrorism. This raises concerns about due process, especially when habeas corpus rights are put aside, which makes it difficult for individuals seeking justice to challenge their detention. The ambiguity surrounding what constitutes terrorism can lead to potential misuse of power against specific communities, particularly Arab Americans.
In the...
