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Gabriella Blum & Philip B. Heymann, Laws, Outlaws, and Terrorists: Lessons from the War on Terrorism (2010).


Abstract: In this book, Blum and Heymann reject the argument that traditional American values embodied in domestic and international law can be ignored in any sustainable effort to keep the United States safe from terrorism. Instead, they demonstrate that the costs are great and the benefits slight from separating security and the rule of law. They argue that the harsh measures employed by the Bush administration were authorized too broadly, resulted in too much harm, and often proved to be counterproductive for security. Although they recognize that a severe terrorist attack might justify changing the balance between law and security, they call for reasoned judgment instead of a wholesale abandonment of American values. They also argue that being open to negotiations and seeking to win the moral support of the communities from which the terrorists emerge are noncoercive strategies that must be included in any future efforts to reduce terrorism. (From the Publisher)