Terrorism, Drugs, International Law, and the Protection of Human Liberty: A Comparative Study of International Law, Its Nature, Role, and Impact in Matters of Terrorism, Drug Trafficking, War, and Extradition

• NCJ Number: 137646
• Author(s): C L Blakesley
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 372 pages
• Sale Source: Transnational Publisher Inc
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: From the series Innovation in International Law.

Annotation

This study examines the impact of the "total-war" mentality vis-a-vis international terrorism and drug trafficking on legislators' efforts to revise legal restraints on governmental action.

Abstract

The author argues that the "war against terrorism" has helped create a climate of international anarchy and has actually been terroristic. Those who oppose international "terrorism" believe it can only be fought by eliminating certain restraints on government. In the United States, the concept of "total war" has been used both against terrorism and drug trafficking. This book discusses the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution and other systemic constitutional principles that are impacted and undermined by overreaction to terrorism and exploitation of fears about it to accommodate domestic political ends, such as arrogation of executive power and diminution of judicial influence. Extradition is viewed as too legalistic for many, so the U.S. Government abducts criminals based on the concept of "a war footing" with terrorism and drug trafficking. Two of the book's chapters discuss jurisdiction over extraterritorial crime and extradition. Footnotes, an 806-item bibliography, and a subject index