FINAL CURTAIN: OBAMA SIGNS IMDEFINITE DETENTION OF CITIZENS INTO LAW AS FINAL ACT OF 2011

JonathanTurley.org ^ | January 2, 2012 | Jonathan Turley

[Yosemitest]

President Barack Obama rang in the New Year by signing the NDAA law with its provision allowing him to indefinitely detain citizens.
It was a symbolic moment to say the least.
With Americans distracted with drinking and celebrating, Obama signed one of the greatest rollbacks of civil liberties in the history of our country
. . . and citizens partied only blissfully into the New Year.

Ironically, in addition to breaking his promise not to sign the law, Obama broke his promise on signing statements
and attached a statement that he really does not want to detain citizens indefinitely.

Obama insisted that he signed the bill simply to keep funding for the troops.
It was a continuation of the dishonest treatment of the issue by the White House since the law first came to light.
As discussed earlier, the White House told citizens that the President would not sign the NDAA because of the provision.
That spin ended after sponsor Sen. Carl Levin (D., Mich.) went to the floor and disclosed that it was the White House
and insisted that there be no exception for citizens in the indefinite detention provision.

The latest claim is even more insulting.
You do not “support our troops” by denying the principles for which they are fighting.
They are not fighting to consolidate authoritarian powers in the President.
The “American way of life” is defined by our Constitution and specifically the Bill of Rights.
Moreover, the insistence that you do not intend to use authoritarian powers does not alter the fact that you just signed an authoritarian measure.
It is not the use but the right to use such powers that defines authoritarian systems.

The almost complete failure of the mainstream media to cover this issue is shocking.
Many reporters have bought into the spin of the Obama Administration as they did the spin over torture by the Bush Administration.
Even today reporters refuse to call waterboarding torture despite the long line of cases and experts defining waterboarding as torture for decades.
On the NDAA, reporters continue to mouth the claim that this law only codifies what is already the law.
That is not true.
The Administration has fought any challenges to indefinite detention to prevent a true court review.
Moreover, most experts agree that such indefinite detention of citizens violates the Constitution.

There are also those who continue the long-standing effort to excuse Obama’s horrific record on civil liberties by either blaming others or the times.
One successful myth is that there is an exception for citizens.
The White House is saying that changes to the law made it unnecessary to veto the legislation.
That spin is facially ridiculous.
The changes were the inclusion of some meaningless rhetoric after key amendments protecting citizens were defeated.
The provision merely states that nothing in the provisions could be construed to alter Americans’ legal rights.
Since the Senate clearly views citizens are not just subject to indefinite detention but even execution without a trial,
the change offers nothing but rhetoric to hide the harsh reality.
The Administration and Democratic members are in full spin — using language designed to obscure the authority given to the military.
The exemption for American citizens from the mandatory detention requirement (section 1032) is the screening language for the next section, 1031,
which offers no exemption for American citizens from the authorization to use the military to indefinitely detain people without charge or trial.

Obama could have refused to sign the bill and the Congress would have rushed to fund the troops.
Instead, as confirmed by Sen. Levin, the White House conducted a misinformation campaign to secure this power
while portraying Obama as some type of reluctant absolute ruler, or as Obama maintains a reluctant president with dictatorial powers.

Most Democratic members joined their Republican colleagues in voting for this unAmerican measure.
Some Montana citizens are moving to force the removal of these members who they insist betrayed their oaths of office and their constituents.
Most citizens however are continuing to treat the matter as a distraction from the holiday cheer.

For civil libertarians, the NDAA is our Mayan moment.
2012 is when the nation embraced authoritarian powers with little more than a pause between rounds of drinks.

So here is a resolution better than losing weight this year . . . make 2012 the year you regained your rights.

Here is the signing statement attached to the bill:

————-

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 31, 2011
Statement by the President on H.R. 1540
Today I have signed into law H.R. 1540, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012.”
I have signed the Act chiefly because it authorizes funding for the defense of the United States and its interests abroad,
crucial services for service members and their families, and vital national security programs that must be renewed.
In hundreds of separate sections totaling over 500 pages, the Act also contains critical Administration initiatives to control the spiraling health care costs of the Department of Defense (DoD),
to develop counterterrorism initiatives abroad, to build the security capacity of key partners, to modernize the force,
and to boost the efficiency and effectiveness of military operations worldwide.

The fact that I support this bill as a whole does not mean I agree with everything in it.
In particular, I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions
that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists.
Over the last several years, my Administration has developed an effective, sustainable framework for the detention, interrogation and trial of suspected terrorists
that allows us to maximize both our ability to collect intelligence and to incapacitate dangerous individuals in rapidly developing situations,
and the results we have achieved are undeniable.
Our success against al-Qa’ida and its affiliates and adherents has derived in significant measure from providing our counterterrorism professionals
with the clarity and flexibility they need to adapt to changing circumstances and to utilize whichever authorities best protect the American people,
and our accomplishments have respected the values that make our country an example for the world.

Source: ABC

[Secret Agent Man]

But, he said he won’t use it.

And there are no death panels.

And GM paid us back.

And Barry got Osama.

And he’s natural born and doesn’t have 19 different SSNs.

[Pipe Dog]

4 later

[willamedwardwallace]

http://urbanlegends.about.com/b/2008/11/13/bogus-khrushchev-quote-makes-the-rounds-again.htm

[willamedwardwallace]

Granted, the general gist of the quote was real... the Soviets certainly intended to subvert our system of government and replace it with communism. However, there is no original source that directly points to this quote ever being directly uttered.

It doesn’t ever help to spread urban legends to prove a point, because these are the types of things that the left will latch onto to make our side look stupid.

[emax]

But that bill doesnt eliminate the right an accused citizen would have to an appeal or trial before losing their citizenship. They could still appeal just like in any other accusation and it would have to be proven ina court of law that they provided material support to a terrorist organization or actively and purposefully engaged in hostilies.

[willamedwardwallace]

http://books.google.com/books?id=NCOEYJ0q-DUC&lpg=PA59&ots=hASuXzC_GF&dq=%22You%20Americans%20are%20so%20gullible.%20No%2C%20you%20won%E2%80%99t%20accept%20communism%20outright%2C%20but%20we%E2%80%99ll%20keep%20feeding%20you%20small%20doses%20of%20socialism%20until%20you%E2%80%99ll%20finally%20wake%20up%20and%20find%20you%20already%20have%20communism.%20We%20won%E2%80%99t%20have%20to%20fight%20you.%20We%E2%80%99ll%20so%20weaken%20your%20economy%20until%20you%E2%80%99ll%20fall%20like%20overripe%20fruit%20into%20our%20hands.%22&pg=PA59#v=onepage&q=%22You%20Americans%20are%20so%20gullible.%20No%2C%20you%20won%E2%80%99t%20accept%20communism%20outright%2C%20but%20we%E2%80%99ll%20keep%20feeding%20you%20small%20doses%20of%20socialism%20until%20you%E2%80%99ll%20finally%20wake%20up%20and%20find%20you%20already%20have%20communism.%20We%20won%E2%80%99t%20have%20to%20fight%20you.%20We%E2%80%99ll%20so%20weaken%20your%20economy%20until%20you%E2%80%99ll%20fall%20like%20overripe%20fruit%20into%20our%20hands.%22&f=false

[redpoll]

>>>It is very likely they would if the govt truly tried to detain a random number fo US Citizens because they didnt like what they said or simply because, for instance, they took part in Teap Party or OWS movements. SCOTUS has ruled these kinds of detentions as unconstitutional several times before.<<<

I don’t think they’ll do the old Stalinesque trick of having every city arrest 100 people at random to instill terror. I think they’ll carefully assess who to arrest, and at what moment, and skillfully manipulate the message and media in order to make it clear that the state is not to be questioned. All it took for many years was popping Randy Weaver’s wife and burning a church filled with “cultists.” Modern media will inflate the few picked as examples so it will seem like 100 people at random in every city. Gosh, keep your guns, listen to Rush, go and pray. As long as you your complaints are impotent and your guns are in the closet, they won’t mind at all.

[Hoosier-Daddy]

and Seal Team Six is still alive.

[GGMac]

At the “discussed earlier” link in Turley’s article above -
comments [appx.200] are for the most part by libs. They are livid over this law; are disgusted with Obama, and the universal tone is that this action of Obie’s is the last straw.

Another theme - horrifying - is that many of them plan to register as Republicans so they can vote in the primaries, for Ron Paul! They want Paul to get the nomination - then they’ll use him as their means to vote Obama out. Paul would then be their very own anti-war, anti-Obama savior - and one who’s definitely not an evil Republican. They don’t care that Paul’s a racist, since Obama’s a racist and nobody seems bothered by it. [nobody but Republicans and conservatives] A bit of liberals’ true colors showing through on the race score.

[Rennes Templar]

“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...”

Too much latitude for interpretation here. What are associated forces? What kind of hostilities?

OWS is a loose association that was hostile at times. Will they still get due process if they reconvene and become violent?

[RightFighter]

Did you read the part that says it doesn’t apply to citizens of the United States, lawful resident aliens, or those captured within the borders of the United States?

[Yosemitest]

You missed it. Read the original article again.

"One successful myth is that there is an exception for citizens.
The White House is saying that changes to the law made it unnecessary to veto the legislation.
That spin is facially ridiculous.
The changes were the inclusion of some meaningless rhetoric after key amendments protecting citizens were defeated.
The provision merely states that nothing in the provisions could be construed to alter Americans’ legal rights.
Since the Senate clearly views citizens are not just subject to indefinite detention but even execution without a trial,
the change offers nothing but rhetoric to hide the harsh reality.
The Administration and Democratic members are in full spin — using language designed to obscure the authority given to the military.
The exemption for American citizens from the mandatory detention requirement (section 1032) is the screening language for the next section, 1031,
which offers no exemption for American citizens from the authorization to use the military to indefinitely detain people without charge or trial."

[Yosemitest]

Read post #92.

[presently no screen name]

mark

[Jay Santos CP]

It takes more than a president to get this crap enacted.

That observation deserves repetition.

[Typical_Whitey]

and his own base who would be storming the white house if it were Bush doing this is completely silent.... Liberals are proving themselves to be unprincipled hypocrites and foolish tools of big government enslavement.

[Yosemitest]

Rule number ONE: Liberals Lie! So don't trust your "books google.com source".

Ezra Taft Benson, Dwight Eisenhower's Secretary of Agriculture, the first man the US Press predicted to be outed from the administration given his staunch anti-communist and severe anti-socialist policies stated the agenda of what he called the "socialist-communist conspiracy:"

“I have talked face to face with the godless communist leaders. It may surprise you to learn that I was host to Mr. Kruschev for a half day when he visited the United States, not that I’m proud of it. I opposed his coming then, and I still feel it was a mistake to welcome this atheistic murderer as a state visitor. But, according to President Eisenhower, Kruschev had expressed a desire to learn something of American Agriculture — and after seeing Russian agriculture I can understand why. As we talked face to face, he indicated that my grandchildren would live under communism. After assuring him that I expected to do all in my power to assure that his and all other grandchildren will live under freedom he arrogantly declaired in substance:

“ ‘You Americans are so gullible. No, you won’t accept communism outright, but we’ll keep feeding you small doses of socialism until you’ll finally wake up and find you already have communism. We won’t have to fight you. We’ll so weaken your economy until you’ll fall like overripe fruit into our hands.’

“And they’re ahead of schedule in their devilish scheme.” (Ezra Taft Benson “Our Immediate Responsibility.” Devotional Address at Brigham Young University. circa 1968.”) [access the audio file on this page.]

America has certainly been given a constant dose of socialism until today one cannot discount that we are ripening and about to fall like overripe fruit into the hands of the socialist-communist conspiracy, which thrives as never before.

As we study the stained glass window below, designed by these Fabian's and which f

[editing still in progress]

rian system on enforced bondage that Fabians promote, buy G. Edward Griffin's masterwork The Creature From Jekyll Island, it is a must have for every person's library. As pictured below, the Fabian's have as their coat of arms a wolf in sheep's clothing, and they desire to mould the earth "nearer to the[ir] hearts desire." And then, in great sinister admission of strategy and tactic, they seduce the masses into bowing down and worshiping the learning of man, his false philosophies that are anti-Christ. These teachings all holding within them the seeds of destruction which run civilizations into the ground. Fascinating is the study of the Fabian socialists, a semi- secret society and their agenda, which is moving forward beautifully for them as they "hammer" away in forging the New World Order with the North American Union here in the Western Hemisphere. Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney gets away with calling his super socialist, mandated health care insurance program a "free market" solution to a socialist created health care crisis. The middle class is reduced year by year into poverty. Dwight Eisenhower's Secretary of Agriculture, Ezra Taft Benson, spoke to Nikita Cruschev who boasted of the agenda that they (the communists and socialists) were moving forth with. He stated they would give us (American's) small doses of socialism until one day we would wake up and find we had communism, and then he boasted, we would "fall like overripe fruit into their hands." Benson, later lamented: "and they're ahead of schedule in their devilish scheme." Indeed, these wolves in sheep's clothing have 'seduced the more part of the righteous until they have come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils." The throngs of the masses foolishly worship these false and destructive, anti-American philosophies of government, economics, education, religion; the sciences; the arts, and every other area of learning. Perhaps there are enough American's who will awaken soon and shed this corruption before civilization is surely "wrecked to pieces."



1. George Bernard Shaw: The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism and Capitalism, 1928, pg. 470) (as quoted in The Creature From Jekyll Island by G. Edward Griffin p. 101.)

[raygun]

I haven’t a clue what else to say.

Perhaps my tag-line may provide an avenue to assuage your - and mine - misery?

[emax]

Yes, since the govt would have to prove that this bill applies to them in a court of law first-esp since the bill was intended to apply only to someone who either was a member or provided support to Al Qaeda, Taliban or an affiliated Terror outfit or had a direct role in 9/11. Then they would have to come to a sort of consensus on whether or not existing law allows for their detainment-since again, this bill states that the laws regarding detaining US citizens and legal aliens are the same as they were before. And whether or not existing law and our current state of conflict allow for detention and suspension of Habeus Corpus is highly debated, thus clearly contestable in a court of law. So in a way, they would get due process-if the govt was still interested in playing by the rules and following the laws. If they werent, then NDAA 2012 would be wholly irrelevant anyway,

[PhilDragoo]