Wednesday, July 06, 2011
ACLU: Help stop Senate bill that authorizes military detention of US citizens in the US
by Larry Geller
The ACLU sent out an action alert via email today. I think it’s important enough that I’ll snip most of it for you to read, and (I hope) take action as they suggest. Just look at what the Senate bill will do, if passed into law. At least read the parts beginning with asterisks.
You can find out how to reach Senator Leahy and our own state representatives at Congress.org.
Update: A commenter properly chastised me for not giving the bill number in my original post. It wasn’t in the ACLU alert, but it is S.1253, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA).
Urge Senator Leahy and the Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on efforts to restore McCarthy-era military detention policies.
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… the Senate bill includes several dangerous provisions that would erode our civil liberties by giving the military expanded powers to investigate and detain civilians both abroad and inside the United States.
Urge Senator Leahy and the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold immediate public hearings on these provisions.
If enacted in its current form, the Senate bill would:
* Explicitly authorize the federal government to indefinitely imprison without charge or trial civilians arrested within the United States itself, including some U.S. citizens.
* Mandate military detention of some civilians who would otherwise be outside of military control, including suspects arrested within the United States itself.
* Transfer to the Department of Defense core prosecutorial, investigative, law enforcement, penal, and custodial authority and responsibility now held by the Department of Justice.
We need a full public examination of these dangerous measures before this bill reaches the Senate floor.
Please act now. Urge Senator Leahy and the Judiciary Committee to hold hearings on efforts to restore McCarthy-era military detention policies.
We proved our ability to have a big impact when we successfully challenged efforts to authorize worldwide war without end. Now, we have to do the same on attempts to dramatically expand military involvement in investigating and detaining civilians, including on U.S. soil.
We don't have much time. Please contact Senator Leahy today.
Thanks for acting,
Laura W. Murphy
Director, ACLU Washington Legislative Office
What are the characteristics of a third world dicatorship?
Spy on your citizens.
Do what you want without regard to your "Constitutuion"
Use the military in and against your own country and its citizens.
Favor the rich and exploit the poor and working class.
Create a sub-justice system for political prisoners such as Bradley Manning
Don't hold higher up government officials accountable under the law.
Ignore the Legislative body actions.
Inprison citizens without due process.
Is there any point in continuing?
The only thing left is for the President to strong arm Congress to make him President for Life.
......"If you put up with it you deserve it".....
: July 7, 2011 at 7:18:00 AM HST Well, you describe what this bill may do, and ask for supportive action...but you don't identify the bill by number and title! Specificity is good for things such as this...
: July 7, 2011 at 7:55:00 AM HST I agree. It wasn't in the ACLU message, but I should have done that wee bit of research.
It's S.1253, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (NDAA).
I'll amend the original post, thanks for chastising me, and thanks for your comment.
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