I want to know the answer to the following question:
What has the 'war on terror' been used as an excuse for?
All the background I'm provided with is that "The notion of a "war" against "terrorism" has proven highly contentious, with critics charging that it has been exploited by participating governments to pursue long-standing policy/military objectives, reduce civil liberties, and infringe upon human rights.". Is that enough to answer the question?
Answer: yes