"Clear and Present Danger"
"Clear and Present Danger" is a term originating from U.S. constitutional law, specifically from the Supreme Court case Ex parte Merryman (1861). The phrase was used to describe a situation in which an immediate threat or harm exists, necessitating urgent action without delay. It has since been extended beyond legal contexts and commonly refers to any serious and imminent threat that requires swift response and decisive action. In literature, this term is famously used as the title of Tom Clancy's 1994 novel, a political thriller centered around drug trafficking in Colombia and its impact on U.S. national security. The novel explores themes such as power, politics, and duty against the backdrop of global conflict and terrorism.
