Facebook is a really great way to stay informed. Unfortunately, Facebook is also a really great way to be misinformed, and that is exactly what is happening right now with this link, stating that the President has signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Unfortunately, there is no date on the link, but if you click through, to the link within the article, you’ll see that it was dated January 7, 2011, almost a year ago. It was about the 2011 budget.
This is not to say that 2012′s NDAA is not newsworthy. The NDAA is perhaps the most controversial bill before Congress right now. The act, in various forms, is passed every year by Congress and then signed by the President. It includes budgets and various other policy specifics.
The 2012 version, however, includes a serious intrusion on our civil rights. It will authorize the military and other law enforcement officials, under the guise of fighting “the War on Terror,” to indefinitely detain American citizens.
The President originally threatened to veto the bill, but Congress has finalized modifications, and are hoping the President will sign the act. Here is the press release, outlining the changes, including changes to the detainee portion. One specific change reads as follows:
Require military detention – subject to a Presidential waiver – for foreign al Qaeda terrorists who attack the United States. This provision specifically exempts United States citizens and lawful resident aliens, authorizes transfer of detainees to civilian custody for trial in civilian court, and leaves it up to the President to establish procedures for determining how and when persons determined to be subject to military custody would be transferred, and to ensure that such determinations do not interfere with ongoing intelligence, surveillance, or interrogation operations. Language added in conference confirms that nothing in the provision may be ―construed to affect the existing criminal enforcement and national security authorities of the Federal Bureau of Investigation or any other domestic law enforcement agency with regard to a covered person, regardless whether such covered person is held in military custody.
The first words I emphasized are the words that are of most concern to civil libertarians. As it stands, the law would protect American citizens, but any President can change that.
The White House has indicated that Obama will sign the current version, which is set to be on his desk by tomorrow, but it’s not too late to contact the President. With enough political pressure, he could be swayed.
Um… I hear a lot of blame on the Obama administration, but wasn’t this bill sponsored by republicians?
thank you for indicating where you found this ndaa bill!! it is alluminating to say the least!,,
(B) have engaged in hostilities or have directly supported hostilities in aid of a nation, organization, or person described in subparagraph (A); and
found this statement in the thomas library of congress… its the definition of who they consider persons of interest… so are they going to define hostilities and define organizations they consider dangerous…
Why do you sheeple believe you have “constitutional” rights when you were no party to that contract? Slaves have no rights, you never have. Read the damn law. The fact is you have “privileges” and they are being removed daily. And that is because you think you are some kind of joint heir to the United States corporation. pfft good luck trying to prove that. It belongs to THEM, not you. You are trying to claim a piece of their pie, so you can sit in front of a TV, collect benefits and dream of the American Dream…
Why do you think you are a party to the constitution? Did you sign the damn thing? Was your fathers party to that document? Read the damn law!
You are so far into a dream world you believe in the fiction as your reality. In layman’s terms “so far behind you think your first”.
Just remember all the people who have tried telling you that this is all a huge play on words, but ignored them, and called them patriots, constitutionalists, and made even THAT illegal… and you fell for it. Hook line and sinker.
Have you ever asked yourself what a US citizen truly is? If you have, and actually searched to find out.. you wouldn’t claim to be one.
You know deep down inside what is happening. Now you have to live with it.
The “rumor” may be correct but I have no qualms that Obama WILL sign the bill and that our rights as Americans will be and ARE being compromised right now, before this particular bill was ever created. There is a nefarious agenda in this country, and it does not involve any previous freedoms we had as I was growing up or even a short decade ago. Our rights and freedoms have eroded to the point where many American born citizens are thinking of leaving the U.S. for good, me being one of them. Bad things are going on here in the U.S., and anyone who can’t see this need to get their heads out of the sand. We call other countries evil, but they don’t have anything on us. We have pulled off some of the most horrific acts against other countries AND our own citizens, and those that don’t believe that have not done their research.
According to the NDAA Controversy article on this at Wikipedia, the Obama Admin, holds the position that already pre-existing law (Presumably executive privilege with regard to the Patriot Act and other extant law) already allows for the indefinite detaining of U.S. citizens, even on American soil. This law then would in fact seem to solidify pre-existent law, at least in the interpretation of the Obama Admin. legal advisory team.
I have been following this story since it’s origin and read this bill several times..at least the part that pertains to Detainee Matters. The bill is over 600 pages long and has had over 300 amendments introduced. I do not want to know how covert operations are conducted or how intelligence is gathered. I do want to know if my rights under the constitution are upheld and that our government is working to keep us safe. I am comfortable with this bill. Read it and decide for yourself. Here is what I fear..that we will believe anything written or videoed without question
you want a video here you go here is him annoucing that he signed http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/president-obama-signs-national-defense-authorization-act this is no rumor
opps responded to the wrong person and Iv’e read the bill it says they can hold people indefindelty and that includes american citizens which violates our sixth amendment right
That video is from 2009.
sorry I meant wrong video http://www.disclose.tv/action/viewvideo/84759/Proof_Obama_will_sign_NDAA_1031_Citizen_Imprisonment_Law_in_a_few_days/
This is incorrect. There is a lot of BS information out there about the bill, you’re right about that, but it does solidify the president’s authority to detain any American indefinitely without trial.
Read the bill. It’s explicit. Changes to the bill offer the military the option rather than requiring them to detain American citizens. The ACLU agrees with this assessment as do members of congress itself. You are wrong about this.
I would be interested in seeing links to that. If you read the article, I quoted the revision directly (with links). I specifically highlighted the part that excludes American citizens, but I also specifically highlighted the part that says it can be changed by the President, which is worrisome.
Here is another passage you might find interesting:
(The detainee provisions of the conference report would:
Reaffirm the military’s existing authority to detain individuals captured in the course
of hostilities conducted pursuant to the Authorization for the Use of Military Force. No change has been made to the Senate version of this provision, which confirms that nothing in the provision may 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.‖
In other words, existing law is not being changed as it pertains to citizens.
I understand everything you said, Virginia and I appreciate a lot of it. But this phrase is very troubling for any American to ever say: “I don’t have a clue and don’t want to know how Intelligence, Law enforcement, the government or the military strive to keep our shores safe.” It is extremely important that we DO know and we DO care how this is done. Remember that American citizens have been placed in camps during other wars just by virtue of their race. We must always know, we must always care, and it is critical that we hold everyone that we citizens have gifted with power accountable for how they use it. Critical.
Why did ten democrats vote for this bill? Have they explained why? Has anyone clearly laid out their reasons for voting or no voting for this bill. Information like that would sure help.