On August 8th, it was announced that our democratically elected president, His Royal Highness George W. Obama, is asking the judicial branch to bless his authority to indefinitely detain American citizens without due process if someone is thought by the government to have aided and/or abetted terrorists. This power, which was given to him by congress in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (section 1021), was stricken down by a judge after reporters and activists sued in a Manhattan court alleging that it was unconstitutional and could easily lead to abuses. Undeterred, our constitutional scholar of a president is appealing the decision to have this power reinstated. On top of that, the White House's lawyers are not confirming or denying that they are complying with this ruling.
What should we do about this? Let's reinstate it and enforce it immediately!
Before I proceed to explain why I support this important piece of legislation, allow me to quote the disputed section of this now law of the land (highlights added for clarity):
SEC. 1021. AFFIRMATION OF AUTHORITY OF THE ARMED FORCES OF
THE UNITED STATES TO DETAIN COVERED PERSONS
PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY
FORCE.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Congress affirms that the authority of the
President to use all necessary and appropriate force pursuant to
the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40;
50 U.S.C. 1541 note) includes the authority for the Armed Forces
of the United States to detain covered persons (as defined in subsection
(b)) pending disposition under the law of war.
(b) COVERED PERSONS.—A covered person under this section
is any person as follows:
(1) A person who planned, authorized, committed, or aided
the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001,
or harbored those responsible for those attacks.
(2) A person who was a part of or substantially supported
al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces that are engaged
in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners,
including any person who has committed a belligerent act or
has directly supported such hostilities in aid of such enemy
forces.
(c) DISPOSITION UNDER LAW OF WAR.—The disposition of a
person under the law of war as described in subsection (a) may
include the following:
(1) Detention under the law of war without trial until
the end of the hostilities authorized by the Authorization for
Use of Military Force.
(2) Trial under chapter 47A of title 10, United States
Code (as amended by the Military Commissions Act of 2009
(title XVIII of Public Law 111–84)).
(3) Transfer for trial by an alternative court or competent
tribunal having lawful jurisdiction.
(4) Transfer to the custody or control of the person’s country
of origin, any other foreign country, or any other foreign entity.
(d) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section is intended to limit
or expand the authority of the President or the scope of the
Authorization for Use of Military Force....
As someone who values the wisdom and dedication of our fair politicians, who want nothing more than the preservation of the greatness of the American way of life and its values, I stand against the opponents of the NDAA 2012. I argue that if we were to implement this provision right now, taking into indefinite detention and possible military court those that are supporting the initiative of terrorists bent on destroying us, we can start to truly bring peace back to our land.
I'd like to focus on one of the main reasons that groups like Al Qaeda and its ofshoots continue to grow in strength and numbers, something that substantially supports terroristic trends against the USA. According to a New York Times article from September 24th, 2006, the National Intelligence Estimate of that same year concluded that the occupation of Iraq and other middle eastern countries has, instead of reducing the threat of terrorisim, helped it spread throughout the globe. The article goes on to say:
The estimate concludes that the radical Islamic movement has expanded from a core of Qaeda operatives and affiliated groups to include a new class of “self-generating” cells inspired by Al Qaeda’s leadership but without any direct connection to Osama bin Laden or his top lieutenants.
Given that the US government has concluded that its own foreign policy of peace through war has helped the spread of Al Qaeda and its subsidiaries, it would seem that those that have perpetuated these polices are substantially supporting forces that are engaged in hostilities against the USA. Thankfully we live in a land of lawfulness and equality! If the White House successfully appeals the Manhattan court's decision, then it should proceed to detain the Obama (and Bush!), their staff, and all congressmen that have supported the US's military endeavors in the Middle East since 2001, and held "under the law of war without trial until the end of the hostilities authorized by the Authorization for Use of Military Force."
Unfrotunately, these hostilities don't seem to have an end in sight, so the President et al might have to hunker down and wait for some time until they get some sort of hearing for their acts of treason against the United States of America. But thankfully we are a nation of laws, enacted to protect us and our values. With a government cleared of people that substantially support terrorists, we might indeed become safer and hopefully return to truly be the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Pax Humana!
