The Constitution's message: Not all means are justified (Phil Inquirer)

[kpete]

Philadelphia Inquirer

Posted on Thu, Jan. 05, 2006
The Constitution's message: Not all means are justified
By Erwin Chemerinsky
Since 9/11, the Bush administration has engaged in unprecedented violations of liberties, including approving torture and suspending the Constitution through indefinite detentions without judicial review. Each time the violations of rights have come to light, the administration has defended its actions by saying they were essential for national security, they were technically legal, and those who revealed the misconduct and criticize it endanger the country.

Predictably, this is exactly what the President has said since the New York Times revealed that he authorized the National Security Agency to monitor, without judicial warrants, some Americans' conversations with those in foreign countries.

Not only do these arguments have no merit. They miss the crucial point: The Constitution is a reminder that the ends don't justify some means, and warrantless spying on Americans' conversations just isn't acceptable.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/editorial/13553154.htm