Editorials & Other Articles
In reply to the discussion: "NDAA does a lot of things, but the one thing it doesn't do is authorize the detention of Americans" [View all]plantwomyn
(877 posts)Actually it does. While the article and even the signing statement are good reads, the Bill, not so much. Read sections 1031 and 1032. The word exempt does not appear in those military detention sections. Does not "require" yes, "exempt from" no. The big change is that they CODIFED what they had already gave the President the authority to do in the AUMF AND they FORCE the President to come up with procedures to be followed and to turn any person detained under this section over to the military for detention. The President CAN submit a waiver to Congress.
Section 1032: (b,1) UNITED STATES CITIZENS.The requirement to detain a person in military custody under this section does not extend to citizens of the United States.
Why doesn't it say that UNITED STATES CITIZENS are EXEMPT? Because they are NOT.
BTW one of Feinstein's Amendments would have made UNITED STATES CITIZENS arrested on American soil EXEMPT but it failed.
So when Obama says "My Administration" he means JUST that. Next guy/gal? Who knows?
But please, everyone read about Padilla before you freak out about this being something NEW. The only thing new is that the neocons demanded military rather than civilian detention. And they got just that.