ABSTRACT
Until the 1950s, the US public generally understood security to mean the preservation of the country's territorial integrity, the well-being of its citizens, and the strength of its democratic institutions. The concept of national security, which was never defined clearly or explained, became the overriding concern of the state, at the expense of other long-held traditions and practices. The National Security Act of 1947 and subsequent amendments and decrees placed the governance of critical foreign and defense policies in the hands of new institutions. The national security managers have prevented public and congressional debate about major policy decisions, which violates the spirit of the Constitution and indeed limits each citizen's democratic rights. The conflict in Central America provides an ideal opportunity for challenging the taboo on discussing national security.
