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In reply to the discussion: Senator Al Franken: Why I Voted Against the National Defense Authorization Act [View all]justiceischeap
(14,040 posts)62. I found this post at wariscrime.org explains the issues with NDAA very well
http://warisacrime.org/content/why-media-lying-about-new-ndaa-power-indefinite-military-detention-americans
As has been pointed out repeatedly by civil libertarians, the cunning language is technically correct, because "require" is different than "allow," but although the bill does not "require" the executive branch to place American citizens in military detention without charge or trial for life, it does indeed "allow" it.
Although Sections 1031 and 1032 were renumbered 1021 and 1022 in the Conference Committee (makes it harder to Google) the substance is still intact. The US military can bust down your door at any time, given the proper go ahead by the executive branch, take you away, never charge you with a crime, never give you a trial, and lock you up, torture you, or even kill you. There is a bit of new razzle-dazzle in the new Section 1021 language now stating:
"Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing law or authorities relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States, or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States."
The problem is that "existing law," as the traitor occupying the senate seat for the Great State of South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, reiterated, is the Fourth Circuit Appeals Court ruling in Padilla v. Rumsfeld, which temporarily upheld Bush's authority to hold American citizen Jose Padilla without charge or trial, as an "enemy combatant," even though he was arrested on US soil with the full rights of an American-born citizen. Judge Michael Luttig in that decision fully expected the question to go before the Supreme Court, before Bush pulled a fast one and said suddenly that Padilla could have a civilian trial after being held in isolation and tortured for 3 1/2 years. That made Luttig go ballistic. Now he was the last guy to have overturned the Bill of Rights.
Although Sections 1031 and 1032 were renumbered 1021 and 1022 in the Conference Committee (makes it harder to Google) the substance is still intact. The US military can bust down your door at any time, given the proper go ahead by the executive branch, take you away, never charge you with a crime, never give you a trial, and lock you up, torture you, or even kill you. There is a bit of new razzle-dazzle in the new Section 1021 language now stating:
"Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing law or authorities relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States, or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States."
The problem is that "existing law," as the traitor occupying the senate seat for the Great State of South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, reiterated, is the Fourth Circuit Appeals Court ruling in Padilla v. Rumsfeld, which temporarily upheld Bush's authority to hold American citizen Jose Padilla without charge or trial, as an "enemy combatant," even though he was arrested on US soil with the full rights of an American-born citizen. Judge Michael Luttig in that decision fully expected the question to go before the Supreme Court, before Bush pulled a fast one and said suddenly that Padilla could have a civilian trial after being held in isolation and tortured for 3 1/2 years. That made Luttig go ballistic. Now he was the last guy to have overturned the Bill of Rights.
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Senator Al Franken: Why I Voted Against the National Defense Authorization Act [View all]
kpete
Dec 2011
OP
I found this post at wariscrime.org explains the issues with NDAA very well
justiceischeap
Dec 2011
#62
You know what govt lawyers do with a loophole when alone can't be printed on the internetz
kenny blankenship
Dec 2011
#109
Uh, actually it can be proven that this bill will authorize the detention of
truedelphi
Dec 2011
#21
Did you support Bush's policies on the president having the power to name anyone an 'enemy combatant
sabrina 1
Dec 2011
#41
so you must have been fine with the Patriot Act, because it only mentions terrorists
StarsInHerHair
Dec 2011
#43
The point is, that there is no reason to have any clauses related to indefinite detention...
blackspade
Dec 2011
#88
He voted for the Feinstein amendment, I was confused because he voted for S. 1867 on Dec 1
jakeXT
Dec 2011
#10
That was on the Senate bill earlier this month. He voted "no" on the conference bill today
karynnj
Dec 2011
#14
And the difference between the two versions is that the conference bill moves the
patrice
Dec 2011
#17
I listened to him on Air America for a couple of years. Someone tell me just how Liberal he is,
patrice
Dec 2011
#18
Not very. I'd call him a moderate but for a US Senator, he is pretty far left.
TheKentuckian
Dec 2011
#84
Which color is Franken on this graph? How many millionaires directly create our laws?
patrice
Dec 2011
#20
In other words, only reliable Democrats and the looneyest of the looneytarian Senators
Major Nikon
Dec 2011
#53
Since my 2 Senators both voted against this bill, I can guarantee you that nothing is wrong with it.
Major Hogwash
Dec 2011
#56