== Rather severe, but needed == 

 I have rewritten the criticism section, which seemed entirely too personal 
 and slanted, and I hope this is more neutral. If the author feels strongly 
 about my editing, he is invited to revert portions, subject to review. 
 ===Criticism=== 

 Homeland security both as a concept and in its application has been criticized on a number of counts, the more prominent of those being: 

 * Conflicts, real and perceived, exist between the Constitution, textually, and its historical interpretation, on one hand, and laws and procedures implemented as part of "Homeland Security", most importantly concerning the rights of citizens to privacy and protection from arbitrary searches and seizures. 
 * Conflicts exist between bodies of international law (ratified by the United States or not) and those applied under "Homeland Security". Notable among these are  
    The notion of "unlawful combatant". The United States Government has created a new status that would exclude prisoners captured by a military force from coverage under the Geneva Convention. While the United States has only been a signatory to portions of the Geneva Convention, much international law is based upon it. While benefiting from the workings of international laws, the US Government should be bound by the documents on which that law rests. 
    Undercover action of agents of the US Government in foreign, sovereign countries. Whether with or without the knowledge of the respective foreign governments, this could pose serious legal problems, especially in countries that practice a separation of judicial and administrative systems. Occasionally such undercover agents are held to appear before courts, a situation which the US Government would not prefer.  
 * While the costs of "Homeland Security" can be estimated with some accuracy, it is inherently impossible to gauge the benefits incurred. There are those who argue that the entire effort is merely to reassure the populace that security will be improved, and thereby offset the intended effect of terrorism.  
 -