The War on Terror and the aAbuse of Human Rights Essay

September 11, 2001 was the date of one of the worst terrorist attacks ever to this day, this event has drastically change how people live everyday life, and also the course of history. In the morning on September 11th three planes were hijacked, with the intended purpose of killing American civilians. Two of these three planes were flown into the towers of the world trade center, while the third was aimed at the pentagon. Because of this for the last decade the United States, among other countries, has fought a war on terror around the world that has resulted in new laws and policies that have drastically taken away the rights of human beings both in foreign countries and domestically. The war on terror has changed the lives of millions†¦show more content†¦(Eviatar) Even though the American government is one of the most powerful governments in the world, they still have to follow laws and make laws that benefit the helpless people of the Middle East. Unfortunately for some the people in power get to make the laws that are followed, meaning that the laws often benefit those in charge, but they do so at the expense of hurting innocent people who are not as powerful. America has taken a hybrid war-law approach to the situation in the Middle East; however the hybrid of the two approaches takes away virtually all of the rights and freedom of the innocent people of the Middle East. Although what is happing in the Middle East is said to be a â€Å"policing action† they follow wartime laws that are much more lenient for combatants than our regular foreign policy. One policy is, â€Å"In war but not in law is it permissible to use lethal force on enemy troops regardless of their degree of personal involvement with the adversary â€Å"(Universit y of Maryland) which basically means you can kill anyone who helps the enemy, or is within their ranks, this would include the ability to kill another soldier even if it were to be a child who cooks for them. Also in war but not law collateral damage that is â€Å"foreseen but not intended† (University of Maryland) is permissible. This is the law that has allowed for the destruction of