Cover Letter

Posted: October 17th, 2013

Cover Letter

Name:

Address:

Telephone number:

Email address:

Date:

Lecturer’s address:

Dear Lecturer (lecturer’s name),

The purpose of the essay is to convey the concerns of the American people with regard to government surveillance on private communication. The government has claimed that it is necessary for such surveillance despite the fact that it goes against constitutional rights. The reader should therefore understand the illegality of the actions taken up by the government, but most importantly, they must understand the importance of such actions.

In writing the assignment, I learnt about the privacy rights enshrined in the constitution. I understood that the topic is controversial since it identified two conflicting positions that each had merit. While the cause for no domestic surveillance proved important, I did not change my mind.

A most difficult task was identifying the articles with the right information. The other was the difficulty in picking a side in a debate that had negative and positive sides in equal measure. However, my position remained adamant.

I enjoyed the assignment especially because it was challenging and gave me insight into government counter terrorism procedures in America. It also made me feel secure knowing that the government is monitoring information that may be threatening to the survival of Americas society and those who share its ideals globally.

The decision for choosing this topic stems from my personal reading a few years ago. I was concerned about government surveillance but after assessing the benefits, I believed in the necessity for such action. The topic concerns not only I but also the people of America who ignore the relevance of the surveillance to curb terrorism.

Sincerely,

First, Last name

Name:

Instructor:

Course:

Date:

1. Introduction and claim

The U.S government vow to use whatever means necessary for to ensure that its citizens are safe from terrorism. It has been found that National Security Agency has been monitoring and intercepting Americans’ internet and phone communications. This is in violation of the country’s constitution and the privacy protections as established by congress. The claim is that these violations are in the best interest of the American people, yet these interests are going against the law of the land. However, privacy rights will not matter if Americans are not able to enjoy them because of deaths caused by terrorism.

2. Background

The domestic surveillance protocol is a part of the Bush administration that referred to as the terrorist surveillance program where an executive order authorizing domestic surveillance was issued to the NSA. It allows the NSA to monitor al forms of communication without obtaining search warrants from the courts. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 2008 relaxed the measure taken by the bush administration but surveillance on the American people is still ongoing (Barker). The reason for this surveillance measures by the NSA have been attributed to the terror attacks of 9/11. These attacks showed that America was vulnerable and needed to update their security system across the country (Horn 82). The NSA in conjunction with communication companies in the country, have managed to gain access to all communication within America and communication coming into and moving out of the country.

3. Body

The argument by supporters of the illegal surveillance by the NSA considers this method as being necessary to averting terrorism. The rationale is that the country will use any means possible to end terrorism. In truth, terrorism has grown to unimagined levels. The main target of terrorism has been the West, America included. The NSA is therefore interested in the private lives of Americans only if their correspondences reveal or suggest that they may pose a threat to national security (Ellsberg 794). The messages and conversations being analyzed by the NSA have to meet certain criteria for them to be flagged as posing significant danger to the American people (Ellsberg 792). In view of this, the American people need not worry about such surveillance especially if it is understood they pose no danger to the lives of other American people.

The claims of those proposing domestic surveillance by the NSA are strong. It is important to fight terrorism by any means possible including illegal surveillance (Waxman 310). The reason for this is that the U.S government is keen on ensuring that the all bases have been covered with regard to homeland security. This may have noble intentions and may even be important for national security. However, the weakness in this view is that it sends a message that government can break the very laws it seeks to uphold. It is a matter of double standards being employed by government. Government should seek to legalize illegal action if it finds that legalizing such action is in the best interest of the people.

Domestic surveillance by the NSA is illegal. Its illegality has been documented in the United States constitution. The constitution is the most supreme document with regard to law. All that is writ on it should be considered sacred since they uphold human rights. America is an adamant supporter of human rights. Therefore, its actions should match its claims for upholding human rights. Surveillance measures threaten to destroy the social fabric in America where excessive monitoring may qualify America as a totalitarian state where the freedoms of the citizens are restricted.

These claims are warranted since terrorism should not be a basis for breaking the law and infringing on privacy rights of the American people, which are enshrined in the constitution. For the government to pursue illegal surveillance, it is necessary for them to ensure that their actions have been legalized by amending the constitution. The stance opposing communication interceptions by the government understands that the NSA is acting the principle of protecting the country from vicious attacks as were witnessed in 2001, but at the same time it recognizes that it is wrong to do so illegally (Katyal and Caplan 1038). Therefore, it is important that the NSA pursue legal means or seek legalization of their methods as a means of finding common ground.

4. Conclusion

The matter has raised controversy in America. While both sides are right, each stance in essence propagates a certain form of evil. The point of discussion is which the lesser evil is. It is clear that the American people will be unwilling to let go of their privacy rights despite the positive nature of allowing government to monitor communication. It is unsettling to think that a terrorist attack could be averted by simply intercepting a message, yet this option was not explored citing irregular procedure. On the other hand, it is also unnerving to live with the knowledge that a stranger is always watching ones every move, but there is solace in the fact that one will always be safe from agents of terrorism set on wreaking havoc and discord in the world.

Annotated bibliography

Works Cited