Comments on: The Late David Nolan’s Indefinite Detention of U.S. Citizens Fears One Step Closer to Being Realized

By: Richard Stands

Richard Stands — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 06:26:19 +0000

On September 11, 2001, 19 criminals from a group calling themselves al-Qaeda committed mass murder in an act of terrorism. They succeeded. Many Americans became terrified.

On September 18th, Congress attempted to respond to this crime by – almost – declaring war. Being typically gutless, having no nation-state upon which to focus, and not wanting to invoke certain limits to their power if they used the term “war”, they did not declare it. Instead, they chose an “Authorization for the Use of Military Force” which initiated an open-ended “war” on a tactic. Since the tactic cannot surrender, or be proven to be defeated, the “war” is endless.

Now, with the help of Mr. Levin and Mr. McCain, America takes one more step into Martial Law.

Amendment 4: “…no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Amendment 5: “No person shall be…deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law;”

Amendment 6: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed”

Amendment 8: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”

Mr. Levin and Mr. McCain: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

Judge for yourself.

By: The Liberty Papers »Blog Archive » National Defense Authorization Act Passes Complete With Indefinite Detention Provisions

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:45:11 +0000

[...] procopius: Amongst many other lawmakers, John McCain is a literal traitor and enemy combatant of the United States…. [...]

By: procopius

procopius — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:35:18 +0000

Amongst many other lawmakers, John McCain is a literal traitor and enemy combatant of the United States. And he deserves a military tribunal and its consequences.

By: Stephen Littau

Stephen Littau — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 19:53:52 +0000

I think Obama will ultimately do whatever he wants regardless of whether he vetos it or not. Maybe it will be in the signing statement or maybe his attorneys will say he has authority to act even if the law says otherwise. Obama violated the War Powers Act without much of a challenge, there’s no reason for me to believe this will be any different.

Does anyone seriously believe that U.S. citizens are not or at least have not been held without due process under Obama? (certainly there was Jose Padilla under Bush) Army Pfc Bradley Manning was held 569 days before getting his first pre-trial hearing (something else just occurred to me: this was 125 days longer than the Iran hostage crisis!). However one feels about Manning, he is an American and he deserves to have his day in court.

By: coyote

coyote — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:47:40 +0000

I was pleased and surprised to see the Obama threatened veto as well. But apparently, his issue is not with giving the President indefinite detention power per se, but that the law ties his hands and requires certain action in certain situations. Apparently he has no ethical problem with the bill, and I am sure he appreciates the new power — he just wants the President to have the freedom to pick and choose who gets due process and who does not.

By: tarran

tarran — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:19:01 +0000

He's not going to veto it. Obama's beef is that this bill ties his hands! I guess he wants a free hand throughout the world.