Terror arrests: Has the US been too secretive?

The names of suspects being detained in relation to the 11 September attacks must be made public, a judge has ruled.

Nearly 1,200 people have been detained by the US Justice Department in regard to its 11 September investigation, officials say.

The government has used its powers of arrest in an investigation which is "widespread in its scope and secrecy" according to Federal Judge Gladys Kessler, who made the ruling.

Most of those detained have since been deported, without officials disclosing any details of their arrest.

The ruling is a victory for human rights groups who challenged the government's policy of secret arrests under the Freedom of Information Act.

What's your reaction to the ruling? Has the US been too covert in its investigation? Is accounting for the arrests a good thing?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

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Your reaction

The crimes committed on September 11 are like no other ordinary crimes, they endangered not only individuals but the very institutions that ensure due process in the first place. Great care must be taken to ensure that the rights of the victim, the United States itself, are safeguarded.
R, UK

Thank God that judge finally opened his eyes

Dahlia Elshourbagy, USA

Thank God that judge finally opened his eyes. It is unconstitutional that we have kept these people detained. Many of them were taken out of their homes not knowing where they were going or why. It is not right for the United States to keep them without reason. I am against them detaining people and this is one step closer to taking away our liberties.
Dahlia Elshourbagy, USA

Of all the thousands arrested only ONE has been tried. Why? Arresting someone without charging them, without allowing them a lawyer or a fair, public trial is against the Constitution! Bush and Ashcroft are violating international law, U.S. law and basic human morality.
Don Reed, USA

The media of today has brainwashed people into thinking they have the right to know things they know nothing about, e.g. Military secrets. I, for one, am not happy with the government keeping as many secrets as it is. But I am not blinded, by liberal journalism, to notice that secrecy is both necessary and strategic. Churchill, for example, knew that the Coventry was going to be bombed yet did nothing about it. Why? he felt that doing so would be a breach in National Security as it would demonstrate the fact that the British had cracked the German code. Contrary to popular belief, people have become more naive since the days of World War II. Shamefully denial will only get you killed.
Dave, USA

I can not understand why the British government became so over-reactive towards terrorism after Sept. 11th. The British government and security forces have been fighting terrorism for the last thirty years. This action has been was done solely to appease the US authorities. It was time that the evidence against those people being detained was re-appraised.
Stephen G, UK Newcastle - Tyne

The misguided judge is pretending that we are not at war. In a war as serious as the one against terrorists with no real agenda but death, the first thing is to prevent them from killing you. After that you can debate whether or not it could have been done with less of a loss of freedom. When they come into free countries to destroy freedom, I vote for stopping them and asking questions later.
John Price, USA

In ten years time when Bush and Blair have brought the world into line with what they want (well what big business wants) will we start calling competitors terrorists? After all they are only people who disagree with us and can harm us financially. So remember that in 10 years time you could be a terrorist just by working for the wrong company. And before anyone says this couldn't happen look to the recent past.
Anon, UK

Bush is going way too far

Lisa Stiller, USA

Bush has continued to clamp down on civil liberties since September 11th. Some of the new tactics are needed...better airport security, an alert colour code system, a request for vigilance. But Bush is going way too far, especially in his attempt to keep the investigations and hearings so secret. I fear a revival of the McCarthy era.
Lisa Stiller, USA

Repeat of the McCarthy era Ms Stiller? Certainly not. Let me ask you this; What hard evidence did Senator McCarthy have to allow him to logically conclude that communists were silently plotting against the US within its own borders? None. What evidence do we have to conclude that there are terrorists here and abroad plotting against us? 9/11, the hardest and most blunt piece of evidence the US has ever seen.
Sarah S, Seattle, USA

I would feel less offended by these so-called civil rights groups constantly attacking the US Government for trying to protect its people, if they were as equally condemning of the terrorists themselves. What about the civil rights of innocent people whose lives are in danger of being snuffed out by political or religious fanatics?
Dean Cox, UK

Is terrorism the McCarthy witch-hunt of the 21st Century?
Don, UK

Federal Judge Kessler made the ruling. The secrecy is over. I for one am glad, but recognise it was not an easy decision to make. Let's all try to find some middle ground where we can disagree, but at least be united.
Anthony, USA

What can the rest of the world expect of us?

Robert B, Seattle, USA

One must remember that ALL of the so-called people who killed innocents last September had resided in our country for some time, living our lifestyle and taking advantage of our openness and tolerance. Americans, like most humans around the world, are pretty caring and willing to give of themselves to help another, in the cities as well as the small towns. I'm sure that many of the US citizens who the terrorists came into contact with before their treachery were quite friendly and helpful to them. But in the heinous aftermath of the events of 9/11... what can the rest of the world expect of us?
Robert B, Seattle, USA

In regards to the US secretly making arrests for their investigation into the September 11th attacks, the US has crossed too many lines to have many campaigns having very comfortable funding from the US Government. Secretly arresting someone is a violation of human rights regardless of whether or not they are criminals. If they set up their justice system to take their criminals to court and putting them on trial and then dealing with their sentences afterwards, then they should play by the rules.
David, Canada

If they're criminals, they should be tried and convicted. Holding them without trial means the US is no better on human rights than (for example) North Korea, China and Russia.
Alex, UK

Our survival as an intact and secure nation depends on our ability to defeat this terrorist network

John C, USA

The US is under assault by a secretive army of fanatics who intend to cause chaos and mayhem however and whenever possible. Our survival as an intact and secure nation depends on our ability to defeat this terrorist network. What other viable option do we have when the enemy wears no uniform, has no borders, no assets, no clear command and control system, and no rational ideology?
John C, USA

Thank God somebody is standing up for due process! The way things are going, we will soon swap places with Turkey for the most brutal and militaristic government in Nato. That's quite a shocking turn of events. Worst of all, most people won't even care.
Matthew, USA

Each of those detained have the right to have their name made public, but shouldn't we be asking whether they want their name made public? I agree that those still detained must be identified so that a measure of transparency is imposed on the proceedings and the identity of the accused. As for those already deported or set free back into American society, it seems that the decision as to whether their names are made public is theirs alone.
Chris, US

If anything the US has not been covert enough. These detainees were possibly bent on our destruction. If you support or harbour terrorists, as far as I'm concerned, you are one. In times like these, it's better to be safe rather than politically correct.
Eric, USA

I have faith in the Justice Department and in particular John Ashcroft. I am a Democrat and have a myriad of disagreements with the Bush Administration. However, when it comes to this "war on terrorism" I think that they are executing their plans proficiently. In other words it's working.
Jerrold Summers, USA

There is no point in maintaining so much secrecy. If they are terrorists, they should be prosecuted in a court of law and sentenced. If the American Government cannot prove so, then they should be freed. After all it is a gross violation of human rights to detain a person, for so long, simply on grounds of suspicion.
Rajon, USA

If the US had no intention of being covert, the US Government would have already made an investigation into 11 September as with any crime scene. The first thing would be to investigate the crime of the World Trade Center and find evidence because arresting people and then naming them is not going to stop either more terrorists or injustice to the innocent.
Tamzin, France

Those conducting the "war against terrorism" would do well to remember the words of Nietzsche: "He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster."
Trevor Mendham, England

Of course they have been too secretive. And our courts are finally getting around to acknowledging it. Bush's whole philosophy on government revolves around secrecy, even from the very people he was put in office to represent.
Scott, USA

The ruling is certainly a step in the right direction of logic and justice. If you not doing anything unlawful, then you've got nothing to hide!
Hesham, New Zealand

Quite frankly, everything this administration has done has reeked of deception and disinformation.
Jess, Canada

A lot of people say "forget rights" for those believed to be terrorist. I say to them, what if it were your loved one unjustly accused and held without following the laws of our nation/courts, without counsel, without even knowing what you are being held for? Would you then think that the laws of our country need not be followed due to 11 September?
Karen, USA

The US authorities should not have to name anyone they are holding or seeking in connection with the 11 September attacks, until the time they are ready. All that's going happen now is people connected to those listed by the US Justice Department will just go deeper into hiding. There are still many nations in the world who are unfriendly towards the US and her allies.
Stephen G, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK