ABSTRACT
Much concern has been expressed about disturbing domestic developments associated with the "War on Terrorism" that represent some erosion of American values - the general theme being that if the terrorists lead us to abandon or compromise some of our fundamental freedoms then they have won. However, there is an older theme in American political history that has been neglected: a national preoccupation with foreign affairs leads to bearing heavy burdens in national security and expands the power and capabilities of the state at the expense of the citizens. National security concerns tend, over time, to enlarge the threat to America from their own state and various elements in their society. This emerges more sharply when the nation is at war because then domestic support for government intrusions into or impositions on the lives of the citizens grow markedly, as do impositions by certain private entities. This trend seems inherent in many of the capabilities that are being developed to maintain US dominance in information warfare and expand the "Revolution in Military Affairs" of which it is a part. To identify what we may be up against and better understand the possible responses to it, this paper examines past instances of developments of this sort.
