Feeling safer since 9/11? At what cost?

From Stars and Stripes:

Terrorism expert says Americans safer in post-9/11 world, but at cost of personal liberties

By John Sammon

Santa Cruz Sentinel

Published: February 19, 2012

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — An expert on counter-terrorism intelligence gathering, in noting the mistakes that led to the Pearl Harbor and the 9/11 attacks, said Americans are safer today than they were, but at a cost of some personal liberties.

"I think we have moved toward greater security at the expense of liberty," said Erik Dahl, assistant professor of national security at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif. "We have fewer civil liberties."


Dahl's comments came at a meeting of the Lutheran Women's Missionary League at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Santa Cruz, Calif., last week. He said increased airport security is one example of giving up personal freedom for greater safety.

"There is greater scrutiny," he said. "What concerns me is that law enforcement is looking at all of us more closely, and we don't know what it all entails."..

Much more here.