Personal Privacy versus National Security. Russian territory. Before my research began, my knowledge of Russia only encompassed the

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1 Gist 1 Nicole Gist Mr. Sloan AP Language 13 March 2014 Personal Privacy versus National Security A recent series of news headlines diverted my attention from the US mainland into Russian territory. Before my research began, my knowledge of Russia only encompassed the eminent Winter games in Sochi. When news broke in July 2013 that Russia had granted temporary asylum to the NSA whistleblower, Edward Snowden, my attention peaked because this move prompted Senator John McCain to comment, We need to deal with the Russia that is, not the Russia we might wish for. We cannot allow today s action by Putin to stand without serious repercussions ("Snowden Granted Asylum"). I may not have a personal connection to the Olympics or Russia because I am no athlete, spectator, or have origins there. However that didn t deter my interest. I was concerned about whether or not the Olympics would be a safe event to travel to. Given the recent land conflicts between the Russians and the Ukrainians and the power conflict between the Russians and Islamic militant leader, Doku Umarov, it seemed that the Russian President Putin was going to work with his security councils to craft some intricate safety plans. Whether or not the Olympics would be safe to attend lies within the carrying out of such security plans, monitored activity, and personal security practices. In the debate over national security versus personal privacy, I am persuaded that national security is of the utmost importance, perhaps at the risk of privacy; this is proven by the deficit of terrorist actions that took place in Sochi. Acts of terrorism, including bombings and hostage situations, continue to occur in

2 Gist 2 Russia, particularly in the North Caucasus region. Between October 15 and December 30, 2013, there were three suicide bombings targeting public transportation in the city of Volgograd, two of which occurred during the same 24-hour period. Russian government building, airports, hotels, tourist sites, markets, entertainment venues, school and houses have also witnessed other bombings. There is a general risk of U.S. citizens becoming victims of the bombings by militant groups in Russia. Additionally, incidents of unprovoked, violent harassment against travelers regularly occur throughout the Russian Federation. Those of African, South Asian, or East Asian descent, or those who, because of their complexion, are perceived to be from the Caucasus region or the Middle East, tend to fall victim to the violent attacks by extremists ( Russia ). President Putin had recently announced that a page had been turned over in the fight against the Wahhabism movement, the fundamentalist and puritanical Islamic reform movement to restore pure Islamic worship. However, the recent suicide bombings in Volgograd reveal the truth about Russian safety and the future discontent with the Russian government. The International Olympic Committee awarded the Games to Russia seven years ago at a time when separatist groups in the Caucasus regions were under control and did not seem to be a threat to Russian infrastructure. The committee was in awe of Vladimir Putin s personal pledge for a safe and well-funded Winter Olympics, with his promise that the success of the games would stand as a symbol of the new Russia. Today, the threats against the Games and spectators by Islamic militants, suicide bombings, and security warning from the US Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have the athletes, parents, and fans confused and concerned. Per the Russian Federal Law on Operational Search Activity, in conjunction with Order No. 130 by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications, the System for Operative Investigative Activities permits the monitoring, retention and analysis of all data that

3 Gist 3 traverses Russian communications networks, including fax transmissions, telephone calls, internet browsing, messaging, and text messaging ( Russia ). The NSA has been intercepting Americans phone calls and Internet communications, under the guise of the Patriot Act, since 2001 with the assistance of media corporations like AT&T and Verizon. The Patriot Act allows the U.S. government to utilize readily-available technology to give law enforcement an advantage over terrorists, to facilitate information sharing among government agencies so they can better connect the dots, update law to reflect new growth in technology, and increase the penalties for those who commit such crimes. Infractions involve unauthorized surveillance of Americans or foreign intelligence targets in the United States, both of which are restricted by statute and executive order. They range from significant violations of law to typographical errors that resulted in unintended interception of U.S. s and telephone calls (Rosenzweig). The Russian government implemented different policies regarding the interception of communication. These policies proved to put a lid on the terrorist activity centered in the Caucasus region, relating to the omnipresent religious war. The success of these policies calls to mind the question of whether or not personal privacy should be secondary to national security. With that being said, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that such security policies to protect national security were commonplace regarding international relations and, as President George W. Bush coined, the war on terrorism. Prior to the opening ceremonies, the Islamic militants seemed to be very taken to selfsacrifices. These black widow bombings are occurring all over the Caucasus mountain region and claiming citizens as their victims. Doku Umarov, the President of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, ordered his subordinates to halt attacks on the Russian civilian population, while leaving military and security personnel as legitimate targets. After only a year and a half of this

4 Gist 4 moratorium, Umarov called on his Islamic counterparts in the Caucasus region surrounding Sochi to prevent the Sochi Olympics from being held because the Games are satanic dances on the bones of our ancestors. This political unrest and instability has undermined the United States ability to defend, protect, and uphold the rights of U.S. citizens who travel abroad into Russia. The United States ability to communicate and help those who travel, especially into the North Caucasus region, is limited. There have been multiple accounts of U.S. citizens being captured and held for ransom, disappearing, and being brutally attacked and played. The United States travel department recommends that all, U.S. citizens residing in [those] areas depart immediately. Despite all the violence that surrounded the location of the Olympics, the safety plans were carried out effectively and the Games went on without a hitch. What seemed to be a foreshadowing of the events to come, a passenger on a Turkish flight reported a bomb aboard the plane and asked for the plane to be diverted to Sochi. The Pegasus Airlines crew sent a hijacking alert to the Air Force Control Center in Turkey at approximately 5:20 PM local time. As two F-16 fighter jets converged on the Boeing , the plane continued on its path across the Black Sea. The person who has been coined the air pirate had been deemed no longer a threat by 10pm, as conveyed in a tweet by Istanbul s governor. No bomb or illicit substances were found on the man and therefore the motive behind his claims is unknown. The claim came during tense discussions surrounding the current safety status of the Olympic sites at Sochi. This alarming action was taken by one who had no ethnic ties to Russia or the Islamic separatist groups, bringing to mind the possibility that there were other groups threatening the safety of the Olympics. While no dangers materialized, from outsiders or the extremist groups, this all made

5 Gist 5 perfect sense to political scientist Matthew Burbank at the University of Utah. He said that the Olympics are a prime opportunity for opponents to the Russian government to get the world s attention because they garner worldwide media attention unlike any other. However, doing something like staging a terrorist attack may not get the kind of attention that they want (Burbank). Terrorist attacks are generally regarded as attacks on innocent civilians and are likely to earn condemnation rather than recognition of legitimate grievances. Even though the light has faded and the Games have closed, the spark still remains. The intricate Russian security plan pertaining to Olympic safety proved effective because there were no terrorist demonstrations, bombings, or suicide attempts, and the protests that did ensue were shut down immediately and with force. Were the plans successful because of the increased military presence, the increased civilian awareness, or the monitoring and deterrence of nonverbal communication? It is hard to say. When analyzing a country s ability to defend and protect themselves one must take into account multiple factors. Likewise in the United States, one cannot be so audacious with their condemnation of national security plans. These maps, cameras, officers, and taxes wholly protect us in ways that citizens of other countries may not experience. In the event that a national terrorist activity takes place, the United States government is able to positively respond. So, with that being said, I feel more at peace with the United States protecting me through its various programs, councils, acts (notably, and controversially, the Patriot Act), and rules and regulations. While I am not caught up in how I feel about the NSA monitoring my non-verbal communication, I feel for the most part that my local police and national military represent and fight for the greater good, and this feeling strengthens my sense of nationalism. To prevent religious wars, terrorist demonstrations, and to provide for my safety, I support the national surveillance of nonverbal communication and

6 Gist 6 criticize Edward Snowden for so deliberately and brazenly calling the government out. I agree with Stephen Colbert s stance on national surveillance. Colbert, who closed the RSA security conference in early March, said I don t really like the idea of people reading my s but I don t spend time worrying about it.

7 Gist 7 Works Cited Burbank, Matthew. interview. 27 Feb Gorst, Isabel, and Joby Warrick. "Snowden Granted Asylum in Russia, Leaves Moscow Airport." Washington Post. The Washington Post, 02 Aug Web. 12 Mar Ilan, Berman. "Russia losing against radical Islam." USA Today n.d.: Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Feb Mark Phillips Scott, Pelley. "In A Phone Call, Today, President Obama Offered Russian President Vladimir Putin Full U.S. Assistance In Preventing A Terrorist Attack At The Sochi Olympics." CBS Evening News With Katie Couric(n.d.): Newspaper Source. Web. 6 Feb Rosenzweig, Paul, Alane Kochems, and James J. Carafano, Ph.D. "The Patriot Act Reader." The Heritage Foundation. U.S. Department of Homeland Security, 13 Sept Web. 13 Mar < "Russia." U.S. Passport & International Travel. Department of State, 26 Sept Web. 11 Mar Sheasley, Chelsea. "What is Russia's security plan for Sochi Olympics?" Christian Science Monitor 6 Feb Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Web. 11 Feb Siddique, Haroon, Tom McCarthy, and Alan Yuhas. "Ukraine Crisis: 'facts on the Ground' Are 'deeply Troubling,' Obama Says." Theguardian.com. Guardian News and Media, 03 Mar Web. 15 Mar Stampler, Laura. "Sochi Olympics Faces Prospect Of Empty Seats." Time.Com (2014): 1. Academic Search Premier. Web. 6 Feb Tuysuz, Gul, and Greg Botelho. "Officials: 'Air Pirate' Claims Bomb on Board, Tries to Have

8 Gist 8 Plane Go to Sochi." CNN. Cable News Network, 07 Feb Web. 09 Feb