Legal and policy implications of National Security

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THE MEANING OF NATIONAL SECURITY
National security means the necessity of a country to ensure its survival through the use of diplomacy, economic power, projection of power, and political power. NS also means the ability of a country to provide protection and defense for its citizens. This protection and defense are achieved through political measures, the protection of communities, and personal measures. It also means protecting the country through military power, using economic power, and health measures to protect against disease. National security means the country must be able to defend its sovereignty including its economy, the lives and property of its citizens, and its institution (1). The protection provided by the government to its citizens has broadened. National security today covers areas such as energy security, cyber security, and environmental security. Countries such as the US include homeland security and human security within the ambit of national security. To provide national security, governments use tactics that are derived mainly from economic, military, and political power. In addition, countries try to use diplomacy to achieve the goals of national security (2).

NATIONAL SECURITY LAW
The National Security Act passed on July 26, 1947, was a law that was responsible for the restructuring of the US military and intelligence agencies after the WWII. The act merged the Army, Navy, and Air Force into a single National Military Establishment. The law also created a position of the secretary of defense who will head the new department. From the perspective of the Executive Branch, the United States National Security Council was created by the President of the US for national security, military, and foreign policy matters. The National Security Council is a part of the Executive Office of the President of the US and has on its key national security and cabinet officers. In practice, the National Security Council advises the President on matters of national security and foreign policy. The President also uses the National Security Council to organize and direct different government agencies. The National Security Council has also played an important role in US foreign policy. One of the most controversial legal aspects of the National Security Council is that it has the authority to kill an individual including a US citizen if he has been suspected to be a terrorist. The National Security Council defends its position on these killings by holding that it was authorized by Congress to use military force against extremists after 9/11 and also that international law permits such action if the US is defending itself. One of the most controversial laws relating to national security is the US Patriot Act 2001. This increased the surveillance abilities of law enforcement, allowed tapping of phones, improved interagency communication, and increased punishment for terror-related crimes. This law is controversial because ...