This week, the U.S. Senate is set to vote on the National Defense Authorization Act which bill supporter Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) says will “basically say in law for the first time that the homeland is part of the battlefield.”
Earlier this month, Sen. Mark Udall warned: “One section of these provisions, section 1031, would be interpreted as allowing the military to capture and indefinitely detain American citizens on U.S. soil. Section 1031 essentially repeals the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 by authorizing the U.S. military to perform law enforcement functions on American soil. That alone should alarm my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, but there are other problems with these provisions that must be resolved.”
Another warning came from Republican Congressman Justin Amash, who told The Grand Rapids Press that language in the bill has been “carefully crafted to mislead the public.”
Rep. Amish also wrote on his Facebook page: “Note that it does not preclude U.S. citizens from being detained indefinitely, without charge or trial, it simply makes such detention discretionary.”
In May 2010, John McCain introduced a bill into the U.S. Senate which would actually allow U.S. citizens to be arrested and detained indefinitely, all without Miranda rights or ever being charged with a crime.
The stated purpose of S. 3081 (The Enemy Belligerent Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act) reads: “To provide for the interrogation and detention of enemy belligerents who commit hostile acts against the United States, to establish certain limitations on the prosecution of such belligerents for such acts, and for
other purposes.”
The bill has nine co-sponsors including Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA).
Section 5 of S. 3081 states:
“An individual, including a citizen of the United
States, determined to be an unprivileged enemy belligerent
under section 3(c)(2) in a manner which satisfies Article
5 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of
Prisoners of War may be detained without criminal
charges and without trial for the duration of hostilities
against the United States or its coalition partners in which
the individual has engaged, or which the individual has
purposely and materially supported, consistent with the
law of war and any authorization for the use of military
force provided by Congress pertaining to such hostilities.”
This bill, introduced by McCain, who despite overwhelming evidence, claims to be a “conservative,” would not only take away our right to a trial, but would also allow the federal government to arrest and imprison anyone the current administration deems hostile.
Of course, that would be the same administration whose Homeland Security Secretary has classified veterans, retired law enforcement, Ron Paul supporters, and conservatives as “terrorists.”
If it was not clear before, it should be now that John McCain has as little respect for the Constitution as he does for our borders.
Comments
Are we the new Sovjiet, or a Fascist state? banksters!
John McCain a true repulicrat Thanks John....We hope you enjoy your retirement.
John McCain A true "Republicrat"
Actually, you have been for some time now. Objects in mirror are closer then they appear.
This is so blatantly unconstitutional, it's almost laughable. Unfortunate that we have people pushing for totalitarianism in America in our congress.
Starting to seem as if JM spent too much time in captivity. Now he wants US to pay for it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h_V-ARe_nE The passage of this new DoD bill makes this film more terrifying. Cops with .50 Cal machine guns militarized against our citizens? And all for the banksters in England!
First off, the definition of "a citizen of the United
States, determined to be an unprivileged enemy belligerent under section 3(c)(2) in a manner which satisfies Article 5 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War" is a question that is very subjective, isn't it? Can someone questioning and/or protesting the Tyranny of the Federal Government be labeled such?
If there is a question of security in a trial, it would be better to sequester it, then to eliminate having one. A jury of peers can determine the threat as easily as a bureaucrat and with 'We the People' prejudice as it should be, as is under common law, . Our current judicial mentality that legal precedence over rules common law is insanity to follow.
Jury nullification must be taught to all citizens. If a jurist finds a law to be violating the inalienable right of a defendant , they can declare not guilty without reprisal and legally.
http://fija.org/
And we need to immediately start using our powers on the jury, including on tax trials.
They make 'the unprivileged enemy' so generalized it can be anyone. Now that is f@#ked up.
Americans that keep voting for people that hate them, like(in my opinion),John,"Americans wouldn't pick lettuce for fifty dollars!! an hour" McCain, deserve what is coming down the road. That Lieberman is for this does not surprise me, but here you've got Scott Brown, the so-called salvation of Mass. revealing his true colors. Americans have to get tough, and get our asses off of both chairs, and start realizing that some people in power, SIMPLY DON'T HAVE OUR BEST INTERESTS AT HEART. They are working for some othr agenda, then to represent American citizens.
So Juan McCain proposed to give illegal alien gang members US citizenship in his AMNESTY bill with Teddy Kennedy. Now he wants to strip away the constitutional rights of US citizens who disagree with the government? Anyone who supports domestic terrorists (illegal alien gang members) and make them US citizens is a hostile and enemy of this country. Perhaps if the legislation passes he can be the first one charged as an enemy beligerent.
I voted for this guy. Now no respect.
sucks
Shows just how failed the Republican Party really is! This was the big dog they (RNP, Michael Steal :) gave us a God Awful NEOCON called John McCain.
No wonder people are flocking to the Tea Party when big Business Government goes this way.
When Republicans fail to recapture the House and Senate this Fall they will first blame the Tea Party for this rather than asking themselves why they can not keep conservative voters!
Treason.
Neither conservative, nor liberal. Washington DC is utterly corrupt. The only solution is to legally drive the Dems and Repubs out of the state capitols and bring about a constitutional convention with the goal of abolishing the USA and replacing it with a People's Union of Sovereign State Republics. Any communism would be strictly free-enterprise and implemented with just compensation and full preservation, restoraqtion and expansion of liberty, though. Not the varieties of "communism" that have been tried heretofore for they were/are all totalitarian.
okay - you're on the right track, but you haven't researched everything yet. This is a Constitutional Republic. It shouldn't matter about left, right, conservative, liberal, Republican, Democrat.. none of the matters. The sooner the American people in this country can realize this the better off we will be.
I think you may be on to something...
you're no republican mccain.
This is a good example of why I didn't vote for either McCain or Obama. People have to stop putting up with the gradual march towards a complete police state. THX-1138 is a close preview of 200 years from now if we don't stop cooperating with evil.
well said.
The neocons are in the process of usurping the tea parties. Or at least enough to sew confusion. Tea Party Nation is corrupted.
Did you people fail Reading Comprehension 101 or what? McCain certainly has something to be desired as a conservative. However, the intent of this bill is to keep terrorists such as the underwear bomber from being turned loose on the streets by a slick lawyer.
What is there about "enemy belligerent" that you dummies cannot understand?
perhaps illiterate, but certainly not stupid...or naive, for that matter...
"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
I think the American Citizen part.
lick the head you moron
Whom ever trained the shoe bomber and the underwear bomber forgot to teach them that a blasting cap is required to set off their plastic explosive, so if the student failed to learn, the instructor failed to teach.....so there was no danger at all but the fear factor rocketed on each occasion. False flags r us.
Hey Ewell, apparently you didn't get a good grade on Reading Comprehension 101 either.... The article starts off saying "American Citizens", not the panty bomber, shoul now be known as "The Nutless Bomber". Go back and read it again....... Jerry
I have a really great idea why don't we just sent McCain back to Alaska and for heavens sake tell him not to forget to take Sarah Palin with him!!!!!
They are both an embarassment to us all, especially Sarah Palin!
I protested in front one of this SCUM'S town hall meetings. Now it's obvious how much a of a sorrier scum he's becoming.
What an embarrassment!! Come election time vote them ALL OUT, America!
As dictatorship looms over America, we must act. First of all be informed and second of all inform others around us. THE NEO-CONSERVATIVES ARE THE ENEMY -- NOT JUST THE LIBERALS. McCain is a Neo-Con and he is the enemy -- no matter what he says. So is Gingrich. Write me for a free copy of a half-hour DVD exposing Gingrich.
DonFolkers@gwi.net
4 Mills Road
Newcastle Me 04553
Are Americans awake? Nope.
I thought McCain died 2 years ago?
Wouldn't a US citizen accused of the crimes mentioned in this bill be accused of treason and isn't the punishment for treason already laid out in the Constitution?
This is disgusting. I thought conservatives were supposed to be for protecting the rights of the people. John Mccain and the Republican Party are ruining America.
Oh wow, no way thats just too cool!
Lou
www.online-privacy.it.tc
This just proves that no matter which way we vote (right or, left) that, our nation is heading towards the same direction as Nazi Germany did when Adolf Hitler was in power.
can we please get all the old people out of congress. this stuff is getting ridiculous.
I'm an old person, and I agree.
This is classic conservatism - the act of limiting rights and freedoms in exchange for increasing security.
The reasoning behind this policy is that it allows the government to deal with terrorists who try to hide behind their status as American citizens, which has happened in the past and will likely happen in the future. That being said, it also allows the government to screw over innocent citizens just as effectively as terrorists. So the question becomes if you think the benefits outweigh the costs. Is the increased security versus terrorism worth the possibility of innocent Americans being abused through legal loopholes in the act.
This is perfectly in line with the conservative agendas of the past decade: the patriot act, homeland security, terrorist prisoners not subject to rulings of the geneva convention, increased military spending, etc. All of them limit or reduce certain rights or social policies in exchange for increased security.
This is in no way neo-conservative or liberal. If you don't like this policy, you should probably be looking to Ron Paul, not J.D. Hayworth, whose even more conservative than McCain is.
When will the cowardly old conservatives hurry up and die. I have developed an absolute hatred for everyone over the age of 60 (the FoxNews crowd).
Glenn Beck isn't over 60.
glenn beck is not 60, but he certainly is retarded.
vote with a bullet
Its not who votes that counts, its who counts the votes...--Stalin, 1917
McCain should be indicted as a capital traitor for turning from hard evidence that the 911 attacks were an inside job,
http://s14.radikal.ru/i187/1007/a9/769569650231.gif
He can explain to the judge why video of a cruise missile slamming into the Pentagon, in an attack blamed on an Arab in a hijacked Boeing 757, never moved him to question the official story!
Well, under this administration, I am sure that I would be considered "hostile"...and so will anybody else who is in disagreement with Obama.
Funny isnt it, how the same people denouncing Saddam as a dictator now want to embrace his values and turn the USA into a dictatorship that can disappear, torture and murder law-abiding US citizens with no legal recourse! Seems to be that the main location of known america-hating terrorists ( and really, isnt that a good description of McCain and Lieberman, and anyone else that supports such an attack against the rights of citizens that this so-called bill consitutes ) is congress! We dont need any bs new laws to establish that, and to know the correct course of action to take against people like this who are traitors and criminals.
Pages
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!