---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For the same reason , the American…"
description: "\"“For the same reason , the American government has invented a completely new juridical category , that of 'illegal enemy combatants'. In general, the p..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/tzvetan-todorov-24239_american-government_for-the-same-reason-the-american-governm_33586.jpg"
---

#  For the same reason , the American government has invented…

![“For the same reason , the American government has invented a completely new juridical category , that of 'illegal enemy combatants'. In general, the perpetrators of violence against the population clearly fall into two groups which, once they have been arrested, come under different jurisdictions…” quote by Tzvetan Todorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/tzvetan-todorov-24239_american-government_for-the-same-reason-the-american-governm_33586.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/tzvetan-todorov-24239_american-government_for-the-same-reason-the-american-governm_33586.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7bf/tzvetan-todorov-24239_american-government_for-the-same-reason-the-american-governm_33586.jpg)

> ““For the same reason , the American government has invented a completely new juridical category , that of 'illegal enemy combatants'. In general, the perpetrators of violence against the population clearly fall into two groups which, once they have been arrested, come under different jurisdictions, but still possess certain rights. In times of peace, they are criminals, protected in every state of law by habeas corpus, defended by lawyers, and judged in accord with the law. In times of war, they are enemy soldiers who, if captured, must be treated in accord with international Conventions. In what category are we to classify the terrorist of Al-Qaeda? Since they do not belong to the regular of a country that has signed the conventions of Geneva, they cannot claim the protection of those conventions. So do they fall under ordinary legislation? It is here that the formula' war on terror' shows how useful it is: since there is a 'war' going on, the laws of peacetime do not apply; but since this war is not being waged on anther country, international conventions do not come into it either! And since this 'war' can never end, the government that declares it is placing itself for an indefinite period above national laws, as well as above international norms.””

[Tzvetan Todorov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tzvetan-todorov/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The passage critiques the creation of the 'illegal enemy combatant' category, arguing it sidesteps both domestic legal protections and international war conventions, allowing indefinite governmental authority beyond legal constraints.

**In simple terms:** Legal loophole for terrorism

Key Takeaway

War on terror erodes rule of law

Themes

legal theory human rights terrorism international law state power

Mood

critical skeptical

Type

political analysis legal commentary

When to use this quote

- detaining suspected terrorists
- post‑9/11 policy debates
- court challenges to detention
- legislative drafting

Key Concepts

juridical categories habeas corpus Geneva Conventions governmental authority

Practical Applications

- human‑rights advocacy
- policy reform proposals

Questions to Reflect On

- How does labeling affect legal rights?
- What safeguards could prevent abuse?

A Different Perspective

Some argue that extraordinary threats justify temporary suspension of certain legal norms to protect national security.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[American government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-government/) [Habeas corpus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habeas-corpus/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

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