Welcome to the War
December 5, 2011 •Update 12/15: The U.S. House of Representatives passes the NDAA.
© Bay Ismoyo/AFP/Getty Images
The passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) through the Senate last Thursday saw the culmination of a ten-year crusade by Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC) to make the law of war apply on US soil.
In many ways Senator Graham is simply following the logic of the Global War on Terror frame to its inevitable conclusion: If we are at war with Al Qaeda all around the world then there is no good reason why US soil should be excluded.
Senator Graham’s avowed objective is to allow for the military detention of suspected Al Qaeda, Taliban or otherwise affiliated terrorists captured on US soil, but of course detention is not the only arrow in the military quiver.
Logic is a harsh taskmaster. If the war on terror is being fought on US soil the military would also now have the authority to do what it does best – engage the enemy with kinetic force. In other words, for those of you who don’t like euphemisms, to kill people.
As if on cue, CIA general counsel Stephen Preston and Pentagon general counsel Jeh Johnson popped up at a conference last week to confirm that US citizens do not have immunity when they are at war with the United States.
In summary, once the NDAA becomes law a US citizen on US soil can lawfully be killed by the US military if the military believes that citizen to be a terrorist affiliated with Al Qaeda or its allies.
The key word in that last sentence was “believes.” In the past ten years our intelligence hasn’t been that good. You may we recall we invaded Iraq because our intelligence indicated that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons of mass destruction. He didn’t. No small mistake that.
Also consider Guantanamo. Of 770 or so detainees labeled ‘the worst of the worst’ by Vice President Dick Cheney more than 550 were ultimately released without charge after years of ill treatment. At the very apex of US operational capability, our intelligence was flawed 2/3s of the time.
The concept of collateral damage may become rather more real for Americans in the years ahead.
The threshold for what is considered terrorist activity by the US government – and thus can be engaged militarily – is also somewhat lower than you might imagine. The new Authorization for the Use of Military Force pegs that threshold at providing ‘substantial support’ to Al Qaeda and its allies.
In the past ten years the ‘substantial support’ test has encompassed buying rain gear, allowing a suspect to make a call on a personal cellphone and writing an opinion piece critical of the US government for the liberal British newspaper, The Guardian.
That is the standard coming to a neighborhood near you if the President doesn’t veto this bill.
Perhaps, you think I am exaggerating the threat that this Act poses?
The same day that the NDAA passed the Senate, Amnesty International called on the government of Tanzania to live up to its obligations under the Convention against Torture and detain former President George Bush for, by his own admission, ordering the torture of detainees in US custody.
Within hours Fox News had whipped up its commentariat into such a frenzy that one talking head, former Bush adviser Brad Blakeman, opined:
“It could be taken as a call for violence against the president… I think it’s a threat upon… the former president.”
Setting aside the fact that it takes a rather twisted mind to equate a call for the application of due process of law to a threat of violence, Blakeman’s comment comes within a whisker of accusing Amnesty International of providing material support to terrorists.
Overheated rhetoric may have relatively minor consequences on the debating floor, but those consequences could be rather more serious once the debating floor is considered to be part of the battlefield.
Now, I don’t seriously expect hellfire missiles to come crashing through the window of Amnesty’s DC office any time soon, but in the legal landscape this new bill creates there is quite simply no meaningful check preventing it.
If someone with their finger on the trigger decides to take the view that criticizing government is providing aid and comfort to the enemy, then the critic could become a target.
And on the battlefield there is no burden of proof or judicial review. If the military over-reaches, or worse still, makes a mistake – good luck trying to fix it.
Take Action: Tell President Obama to veto the NDAA!
Join Amnesty International on January 11, 2012 for a National Day of Action in Washington, DC to demand the closure of Guantanamo on the 10th anniversary of unlawful counterterrorism detentions at the facility. Sign up now!
Angry about the NDAA? Show the government by joining Amnesty, Witness Against Torture, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and 20 other groups at a protest in Washington DC on January 11–the 10th anniversary of the Guantanamo prison: sign up at http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11
Angry about the NDAA? Show the government by joining Amnesty, Witness Against Torture, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and 20 other groups at a protest in Washington DC on January 11–the 10th anniversary of the Guantanamo prison: sign up at http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11
Angry about the NDAA? Show the government by joining Amnesty, Witness Against Torture, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and 20 other groups at a protest in Washington DC on January 11–the 10th anniversary of the Guantanamo prison: sign up at http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11
AI does itself no favors by calling for Bush's arrest. A movement requires tactics, and repeatedly calling for Bush's arrest is a huge tactical blunder. It hurts AI's credibility with the average person, and makes the organization appear to be some radical left-wing group rather than the world's largest and most respected human-rights organization. Sometimes you have to pick your battles, and here Amnesty has chosen to pick a losing battle with a negative outcome no matter what happens. A much better move would have been to create a petition campaign demanding Bush apologize for the waterboarding that went on with his approval. Demanding he be arrested will only hurt Amnesty's standing and support and therefore its ability to deal with future human rights crises.
All the articles I've found only talk about the vote in the Senate. Has the House of Representatives already voted this through? Or is that coming in the near future? And on what day does it hit Obama's desk?
Read "Nation of Cowards" by Jeff Snyder at: http://www.amazon.com/Nation-Cowards-Jeff-Snyder/…
This has become a nation of cowards looking to big brother, big sister, or the nanny state to protect them. I won't be looking kindly on trying to protect them when they realize that nanny is the babysitter from hell.
Rob, from what I have read, it has passed the house. I am not certain, however. This HAS to be stopped, NOW! The United States of America (Land of the FREE, Home of the Brave) is about to become a Police State. A cop could shoot you for looking cross eyed at him/her, saying it was a "terrorist signal"! Mr. Hitler, Mr. Hitler…have you come back from the grave?
It's veto-proof……….we are f^%$&d. This life-long progressive/Democrat is voting for Ron Paul. I would rather have liberty and sanity than endless wars and a police state. Seriously.
Angry about the NDAA? Show the government by joining Amnesty, Witness Against Torture, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and 20 other groups at a protest in Washington DC on January 11–the 10th anniversary of the Guantanamo prison: sign up at http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11
America is falling!
I think one should really examine the timing of this NDAA to how it relates to the growing dissension amongst the American population, the growing momentum of the OWS movement, and the fact the normally divisive dynamic of our political system is losing its effectiveness — as being highly suspect and probably the real reason for its emergence . I think the oligarchs are terrified at the growing strength of the people and are taking well thought-out, predetermind steps to quell the onslaught.
@Ron, Yes , it WAS passed in the Senate http://www.opednews.com/articles/S-1867-Killing-T…
@Steve, why do you say it's 'veto-proof'"
@Michael, I agree
If this bill passes we are in a world of trouble
_/_ Amituofo
All the articles I’ve found only talk about the vote in the Senate. Has the House of Representatives already voted this through? Or is that coming in the near future? And on what day does it hit Obama’s desk?
@Ron, Yes , it WAS passed in the Senate http://www.opednews.com/articles/S-1867-Killing-T…
@Steve, why do you say it's 'veto-proof'"
@Michael, I agree
If this bill passes we are in a world of trouble
_/_ Amituofo
@Ron, Yes , it WAS passed in the Senate http://www.opednews.com/articles/S-1867-Killing-T…
@Steve, why do you say it's 'veto-proof'"
@Michael, I agree
If this bill passes we are in a world of trouble
_/_ Amituofo
AI does itself no favors by calling for Bush’s arrest. A movement requires tactics, and repeatedly calling for Bush’s arrest is a huge tactical blunder. It hurts AI’s credibility with the average person, and makes the organization appear to be some radical left-wing group rather than the world’s largest and most respected human-rights organization. Sometimes you have to pick your battles, and here Amnesty has chosen to pick a losing battle with a negative outcome no matter what happens. A much better move would have been to create a petition campaign demanding Bush apologize for the waterboarding that went on with his approval. Demanding he be arrested will only hurt Amnesty’s standing and support and therefore its ability to deal with future human rights crises.
Rob, from what I have read, it has passed the house. I am not certain, however. This HAS to be stopped, NOW! The United States of America (Land of the FREE, Home of the Brave) is about to become a Police State. A cop could shoot you for looking cross eyed at him/her, saying it was a “terrorist signal”! Mr. Hitler, Mr. Hitler…have you come back from the grave?
It’s veto-proof……….we are f^%$&d. This life-long progressive/Democrat is voting for Ron Paul. I would rather have liberty and sanity than endless wars and a police state. Seriously.
Read “Nation of Cowards” by Jeff Snyder at:
http://www.amazon.com/Nation-Cowards-Jeff-Snyder/dp/1888118083
This has become a nation of cowards looking to big brother, big sister, or the nanny state to protect them. I won’t be looking kindly on trying to protect them when they realize that nanny is the babysitter from hell.
America is falling!
I think one should really examine the timing of this NDAA to how it relates to the growing dissension amongst the American population, the growing momentum of the OWS movement, and the fact the normally divisive dynamic of our political system is losing its effectiveness — as being highly suspect and probably the real reason for its emergence . I think the oligarchs are terrified at the growing strength of the people and are taking well thought-out, predetermind steps to quell the onslaught.
I think Michael hit it on the head. On the one hand we have a tacit declaration of martial law if the NDAA is signed into law, combine that with the failed first attempt to control internet communications via IP PROTECT, supposedly to protect the entertainment industry from privacy, quickly followed by the now ongoing attempt to ram SOPA through, which would essentially set up a mechanism for a US version of the Great Firewall of China.
NDAA passed after adding some very "fluffy" language about how it would not be construed to blah, blah, blah – basically nondescript language that even the most junior attorney in the Justice Department could write an opinion around. Since it passed, I think, 93-7, it is essentially veto-proof.
With continued control of Congress by corporate lobbyists and the general public feeling more and more squeezed by the increasing wealth gap and disappearing middle class, I would not doubt for a second that what is really being addressed by these overreaching bills is the very real threat of civil insurrection.
We lost habeus corpus long ago, SOPA can be used to block access to the rest of the world, and NDAA basically makes the military a domestic police power.
Don't give Lindsey Graham all the credit though – the most onerous provisions of the NDAA were authored by Carl Levin – D from Mich.. Mark Udall, D from Colo. tried to remove that particular provision via amendment, but the vote was 38-60 or so against.
piracy, I meant, not privacy
@Ron, Yes , it WAS passed in the Senate http://www.opednews.com/articles/S-1867-Killing-The-Bill-o-by-Timothy-Gatto-111202-678.html
@Steve, why do you say it’s ‘veto-proof'”
@Michael, I agree
If this bill passes we are in a world of trouble
_/_ Amituofo
I think Michael hit it on the head. On the one hand we have a tacit declaration of martial law if the NDAA is signed into law, combine that with the failed first attempt to control internet communications via IP PROTECT, supposedly to protect the entertainment industry from privacy, quickly followed by the now ongoing attempt to ram SOPA through, which would essentially set up a mechanism for a US version of the Great Firewall of China.
NDAA passed after adding some very “fluffy” language about how it would not be construed to blah, blah, blah – basically nondescript language that even the most junior attorney in the Justice Department could write an opinion around. Since it passed, I think, 93-7, it is essentially veto-proof.
With continued control of Congress by corporate lobbyists and the general public feeling more and more squeezed by the increasing wealth gap and disappearing middle class, I would not doubt for a second that what is really being addressed by these overreaching bills is the very real threat of civil insurrection.
We lost habeus corpus long ago, SOPA can be used to block access to the rest of the world, and NDAA basically makes the military a domestic police power.
Don’t give Lindsey Graham all the credit though – the most onerous provisions of the NDAA were authored by Carl Levin – D from Mich.. Mark Udall, D from Colo. tried to remove that particular provision via amendment, but the vote was 38-60 or so against.
piracy, I meant, not privacy
@Rob: yes, it already passed the House, now Congress will be in committee to reconcile the two versions. Many people believe the resulting legislation will be worse than what the Senate passed.
@GN: The law is clear: torture is a crime and if you are involved in it you must be held accountable. In calling for FP Bush to be arrested for torture, we are upholding the human rights and legal framework that protect all of us.
@Michael and Bob: yes the implications for domestic protest are staggering–we have to stop this legislation, for many reasons!
@All: we need to pressure our Senators and Reps to oppose the legislation, and even more so pressure Obama to make good on his veto threat. Please call and email them ASAP. You can send emails from http://www.amnestysusa.org/gtmo and be sure to join us in the streets of DC in protest on January 11, the 10th annuiversary of the Gitmo prison: http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11
@Rob: yes, it already passed the House, now Congress will be in committee to reconcile the two versions. Many people believe the resulting legislation will be worse than what the Senate passed.
@GN: The law is clear: torture is a crime and if you are involved in it you must be held accountable. In calling for FP Bush to be arrested for torture, we are upholding the human rights and legal framework that protect all of us.
@Michael and Bob: yes the implications for domestic protest are staggering–we have to stop this legislation, for many reasons!
@All: we need to pressure our Senators and Reps to oppose the legislation, and even more so pressure Obama to make good on his veto threat. Please call and email them ASAP. You can send emails from http://www.amnestysusa.org/gtmo and be sure to join us in the streets of DC in protest on January 11, the 10th annuiversary of the Gitmo prison: http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11
@Rob: yes, it already passed the House, now Congress will be in committee to reconcile the two versions. Many people believe the resulting legislation will be worse than what the Senate passed.
@GN: The law is clear: torture is a crime and if you are involved in it you must be held accountable. In calling for FP Bush to be arrested for torture, we are upholding the human rights and legal framework that protect all of us.
@Michael and Bob: yes the implications for domestic protest are staggering–we have to stop this legislation, for many reasons!
@All: we need to pressure our Senators and Reps to oppose the legislation, and even more so pressure Obama to make good on his veto threat. Please call and email them ASAP. You can send emails from http://www.amnestysusa.org/gtmo and be sure to join us in the streets of DC in protest on January 11, the 10th annuiversary of the Gitmo prison: http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11
@Rob: yes, it already passed the House, now Congress will be in committee to reconcile the two versions. Many people believe the resulting legislation will be worse than what the Senate passed.
@GN: The law is clear: torture is a crime and if you are involved in it you must be held accountable. In calling for FP Bush to be arrested for torture, we are upholding the human rights and legal framework that protect all of us.
@Michael and Bob: yes the implications for domestic protest are staggering–we have to stop this legislation, for many reasons!
@All: we need to pressure our Senators and Reps to oppose the legislation, and even more so pressure Obama to make good on his veto threat. Please call and email them ASAP. You can send emails from http://www.amnestysusa.org/gtmo and be sure to join us in the streets of DC in protest on January 11, the 10th annuiversary of the Gitmo prison: http://www.amnestyusa.org/jan11
They already have the internment (concentration) camps set up and there's nothing we can do, just go along with it and we wont be killed by our own government. USA NUMBER ONE…please dont hurt me…
Veto-proof because of the number who voted yea; any veto will be overrided, ergo……veto-proof…….
I don't really like it and it is too much Military power control and too bad citizens. We want peace and show respect humanity for sure.
"Civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the State becomes lawless or, which is the same thing, corrupt."
Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi
They already have the internment (concentration) camps set up and there’s nothing we can do, just go along with it and we wont be killed by our own government. USA NUMBER ONE…please dont hurt me…
Veto-proof because of the number who voted yea; any veto will be overrided, ergo……veto-proof…….
I don’t really like it and it is too much Military power control and too bad citizens. We want peace and show respect humanity for sure.
“Civil disobedience becomes a sacred duty when the State becomes lawless or, which is the same thing, corrupt.”
Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi
As Peter Seeger stated: I am a pacifist but that does not mean I won’t defend my home.
Land of democracy does not equate to military power. The military machine has reared its ugly head.
As a moderate in the political arena, I honestly think that AI is making a mistake in calling for G.W. Bush's arrest.
If AI wants to attract support from anyone other than left wing liberals, it might want to focus its resources on things other than arresting the former president.
Just noticed someone already said this…oh well. I second "GM".
As a moderate in the political arena, I honestly think that AI is making a mistake in calling for G.W. Bush’s arrest.
If AI wants to attract support from anyone other than left wing liberals, it might want to focus its resources on things other than arresting the former president.
Just noticed someone already said this…oh well. I second “GM”.
Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both Benjamin Franklin
We need to urge the president to veto this bill!! http://t.co/cqtT5zT6 Go here to sign the petition. Also, we need to contact our senators. Remember even if Obama veto's this bill senate can over ride with a majority vote. We need to let our senators know that a vote yes for this bill will result in a no vote when they are up for reelection. They do not think we are paying attention. The media is not reporting on this either. Share it with everyone you know.
We need to urge the president to veto this bill!! http://t.co/cqtT5zT6 Go here to sign the petition. Also, we need to contact our senators. Remember even if Obama veto's this bill senate can over ride with a majority vote. We need to let our senators know that a vote yes for this bill will result in a no vote when they are up for reelection. They do not think we are paying attention. The media is not reporting on this either. Share it with everyone you know.
We need to urge the president to veto this bill!! http://t.co/cqtT5zT6 Go here to sign the petition. Also, we need to contact our senators. Remember even if Obama veto's this bill senate can over ride with a majority vote. We need to let our senators know that a vote yes for this bill will result in a no vote when they are up for reelection. They do not think we are paying attention. The media is not reporting on this either. Share it with everyone you know.
Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both Benjamin Franklin
So if the laws of war apply on us soil then so shall the laws of war crimes. come on people, there are alot of things they've been doing that would constitute both war crimes and treason.
We need to urge the president to veto this bill!! http://t.co/cqtT5zT6 Go here to sign the petition. Also, we need to contact our senators. Remember even if Obama veto’s this bill senate can over ride with a majority vote. We need to let our senators know that a vote yes for this bill will result in a no vote when they are up for reelection. They do not think we are paying attention. The media is not reporting on this either. Share it with everyone you know.
Here’s the thing about calling for President Bush to be held accountable. Democracies are supposed to uphold the law and honor their treaty commitments.
In his memoirs President Bush admitted ordering the waterboarding of detainees in US custody. Like it or not, that’s a criminal offense.
The primary jurisdiction for investigating this offense rests with the United States but not exclusively so. The Convention Against Torture places an obligation on signatories to act if there is evidence that an individual coming within their jurisdiction is associated with acts of torture. The Convention currently has 147 state parties.
Amnesty International seeks the application of law equally without fear or favor. We take the same position on abuses that occur in United States that we do regarding those that occur in any other nation. This is not a liberal position – this is a just position.
Earlier today the former Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, was sentenced in an American court to 14 years in jail for corruption. He broke the law and, regardless of the high office he once occupied, he was held accountable. That’s the way it is supposed to be.
Oh, and while were on the subject, enough already with the ‘waterboarding isn't torture’ shtick. Every single time waterboarding came up in US jurisprudence prior to 9/11 it was considered torture. Just because John Yoo can’t use LexisNexis doesn’t mean it ain’t so.
So if the laws of war apply on us soil then so shall the laws of war crimes. come on people, there are alot of things they’ve been doing that would constitute both war crimes and treason.
Here’s the thing about calling for President Bush to be held accountable. Democracies are supposed to uphold the law and honor their treaty commitments.
In his memoirs President Bush admitted ordering the waterboarding of detainees in US custody. Like it or not, that’s a criminal offense.
The primary jurisdiction for investigating this offense rests with the United States but not exclusively so. The Convention Against Torture places an obligation on signatories to act if there is evidence that an individual coming within their jurisdiction is associated with acts of torture. The Convention currently has 147 state parties.
Amnesty International seeks the application of law equally without fear or favor. We take the same position on abuses that occur in United States that we do regarding those that occur in any other nation. This is not a liberal position – this is a just position.
Earlier today the former Governor of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, was sentenced in an American court to 14 years in jail for corruption. He broke the law and, regardless of the high office he once occupied, he was held accountable. That’s the way it is supposed to be.
Oh, and while were on the subject, enough already with the ‘waterboarding isn’t torture’ shtick. Every single time waterboarding came up in US jurisprudence prior to 9/11 it was considered torture. Just because John Yoo can’t use LexisNexis doesn’t mean it ain’t so.
Please help prevent NDAA 1031 Citizen Imprisonment law from being enacted by signing the petition at http://www.change.org/petitions/stop-ndaa-section-1031-citizen-imprisonment-law-before-dec-9. Then please spread the word about the petition! There’s very little time left to stop this,,,it’s due to be signed within a matter of days, as early as Friday. Congress could change it before recessing with enough pressure. Jon Stewart finally ended the virtual major media blackout on this issue tonight in his leading segment on the Daily Show which could help. Please tweet the petition.
As passed S 1867 includes modifications to Sec. 1031 & 1032 excluding Americans and others …
1031
(e) AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this section shall be
11 construed to affect existing law or authorities, relating to
12 the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident
13 aliens of the United States or any other persons who are
14 captured or arrested in the United States.
…
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s1867es/…
As passed S 1867 includes modifications to Sec. 1031 & 1032 excluding Americans and others …
1031
(e) AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this section shall be
11 construed to affect existing law or authorities, relating to
12 the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident
13 aliens of the United States or any other persons who are
14 captured or arrested in the United States.
…
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s1867es/…
As passed S 1867 includes modifications to Sec. 1031 & 1032 excluding Americans and others …
1031
(e) AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this section shall be
11 construed to affect existing law or authorities, relating to
12 the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident
13 aliens of the United States or any other persons who are
14 captured or arrested in the United States.
…
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s1867es/…
RON PAUL is the only hope to maintain the free country we believe we live in.
keyword there is "believe". With this bill it will no longer be true and we MUST STOP IT NOW ! There was a gentleman in history who summed it up quite well.
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
Thomas Jefferson
Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.
Thomas Jefferson
Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.
Thomas Jefferson
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson
Enough said!
As passed S 1867 includes modifications to Sec. 1031 & 1032 excluding Americans and others …
1031
(e) AUTHORITIES.—Nothing in this section shall be
11 construed to affect existing law or authorities, relating to
12 the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident
13 aliens of the United States or any other persons who are
14 captured or arrested in the United States.
…
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112s1867es/pdf/BILLS-112s1867es.pdf
RON PAUL is the only hope to maintain the free country we believe we live in.
keyword there is “believe”. With this bill it will no longer be true and we MUST STOP IT NOW ! There was a gentleman in history who summed it up quite well.
All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.
Thomas Jefferson
Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.
Thomas Jefferson
Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone. The people themselves are its only safe depositories.
Thomas Jefferson
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson
Enough said!
Dear Dr. Chill,
Your link appears to be incorrect. Might you be so kind as to post up the correct one from which your quotes were obtained.
Arrest Bush !
No , not a radical left demand.
If you think this & think you are still a "moderate", you can't see America's deepening Autumn.
The People are out … they're Occupying the streets because justice has become institutionalized from Reality !
Instead of calling for his arrest, you advise Amnesty to launch a campaign to "petition" Bush to "apologize" …. for WHAT ? For legitimizing torture ? For taking america into a war with a lie that killed 1.5 million souls in Iraq alone & sent millions more into exile from that eternally dismembered homeland ??
Why an "apology" for him, & prison terms & death rows for the People for "offences" which are a MILLIONTH of his ? ?
Arrest Bush … for taking america even deeper into the WORLD – DESTRUCTIVE course she's following.
Prosecute Bush … if you want to end america's global & "national" madness !!
Bring true Justice into the realm of Reality !
The Militarization of America Bush brought to qualitatively new stages is now being geared to the goals of CLASS WAR.
An Internal War within America.
On OWS.
On Dissidence.
On Native Nations & the Indigenous.
On Black & Brown.
On Poor & Middleclass.
On Nature's protectors.
On labor's defenders.
On the homeless the jobless the uninsured the foreclosed ….
The list's being compiled & categorized.
It has still a way to go.
The Bush – generation chickens are coming home to roost.
Arrest Bush !
No , not a radical left demand.
If you think this & think you are still a “moderate”, you can’t see America’s deepening Autumn.
The People are out … they’re Occupying the streets because justice has become institutionalized from Reality !
Instead of calling for his arrest, you advise Amnesty to launch a campaign to “petition” Bush to “apologize” …. for WHAT ? For legitimizing torture ? For taking america into a war with a lie that killed 1.5 million souls in Iraq alone & sent millions more into exile from that eternally dismembered homeland ??
Why an “apology” for him, & prison terms & death rows for the People for “offences” which are a MILLIONTH of his ? ?
Arrest Bush … for taking america even deeper into the WORLD – DESTRUCTIVE course she’s following.
Prosecute Bush … if you want to end america’s global & “national” madness !!
Bring true Justice into the realm of Reality !
The Militarization of America Bush brought to qualitatively new stages is now being geared to the goals of CLASS WAR.
An Internal War within America.
On OWS.
On Dissidence.
On Native Nations & the Indigenous.
On Black & Brown.
On Poor & Middleclass.
On Nature’s protectors.
On labor’s defenders.
On the homeless the jobless the uninsured the foreclosed ….
The list’s being compiled & categorized.
It has still a way to go.
The Bush – generation chickens are coming home to roost.
See in this video–the President has not threatened to veto the Act; it needs to be vetoed, but will the PEOPLE WHO DRAFTED THE AMNESTY PETITION please watch this. The President is the one who is actually demanding full control and the right to indefinite detention! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLiKvSz_wX8&fe…
See in this video–the President has not threatened to veto the Act; it needs to be vetoed, but will the PEOPLE WHO DRAFTED THE AMNESTY PETITION please watch this. The President is the one who is actually demanding full control and the right to indefinite detention! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLiKvSz_wX8&fe…
See in this video–the President has not threatened to veto the Act; it needs to be vetoed, but will the PEOPLE WHO DRAFTED THE AMNESTY PETITION please watch this. The President is the one who is actually demanding full control and the right to indefinite detention! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLiKvSz_wX8&fe…
See in this video–the President has not threatened to veto the Act; it needs to be vetoed, but will the PEOPLE WHO DRAFTED THE AMNESTY PETITION please watch this. The President is the one who is actually demanding full control and the right to indefinite detention! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLiKvSz_wX8&feature=share
Friendly supportive comment;
I have been asking local (Seattle) bookstores about VP Chainy's (on purpose misspelling) cimer book – aka his memoir while assisting Mr. Bush. I have discovered a fascinating irony when asking bookstore clerks to rehouse the book into the crime section of their bookstore, rather than continue to house the book in the corrent events section or autobio sections. Irony: at least a two locations so far, the former VP's book is on the same shelf as Noam Chomsky's latest books – a rare educational opportunity, for those persons inclined to buy the VP's book. I have now ask that the bookstores move most of the VP's books to the correct crime section – leaving a few of the copies near to Chomsky's fine work – might reach a person or two this way. 🙂
Thanks AIUSA for upholding international human rights laws, and for the Jan11 opportunity to continue to do so.
Sorry – "cimer" is an error. I am only referring to the book by the former VP. Not sure what happened during typing. sorry. L.E.
Friendly supportive comment;
I have been asking local (Seattle) bookstores about VP Chainy’s (on purpose misspelling) cimer book – aka his memoir while assisting Mr. Bush. I have discovered a fascinating irony when asking bookstore clerks to rehouse the book into the crime section of their bookstore, rather than continue to house the book in the corrent events section or autobio sections. Irony: at least a two locations so far, the former VP’s book is on the same shelf as Noam Chomsky’s latest books – a rare educational opportunity, for those persons inclined to buy the VP’s book. I have now ask that the bookstores move most of the VP’s books to the correct crime section – leaving a few of the copies near to Chomsky’s fine work – might reach a person or two this way. 🙂
Thanks AIUSA for upholding international human rights laws, and for the Jan11 opportunity to continue to do so.
Sorry – “cimer” is an error. I am only referring to the book by the former VP. Not sure what happened during typing. sorry. L.E.
I don't like the suggestion that in the past 10 years our intelligence has been pretty bad. The public only ever get to see the failures of intelligence – the successes are declassified.
I don’t like the suggestion that in the past 10 years our intelligence has been pretty bad. The public only ever get to see the failures of intelligence – the successes are declassified.
Have you even read the bill? Please, tell me where in the NDAA it authorizes the use of deadly force against American citizens. I would absolutely *love* a citation for that ridiculous and unsupported claim. All the NDAA does is affirm a power that the President has claimed for a decade, and add a wee bit of congressional oversight in the form of SecDef reports to Congress on the status of military detainees. Seriously, you think this lays the legal groundwork for Hellfire missiles to come streaming through your window? You obviously have no idea of the actual legal landscape (hint: you might want to read Hamdi v. Rumsfeld).
Have you even read the bill? Please, tell me where in the NDAA it authorizes the use of deadly force against American citizens. I would absolutely *love* a citation for that ridiculous and unsupported claim. All the NDAA does is affirm a power that the President has claimed for a decade, and add a wee bit of congressional oversight in the form of SecDef reports to Congress on the status of military detainees. Seriously, you think this lays the legal groundwork for Hellfire missiles to come streaming through your window? You obviously have no idea of the actual legal landscape (hint: you might want to read Hamdi v. Rumsfeld).
Hardly ridiculous, the NDAA further entrenches the war paradigm in US law. It requires military detention for foreign nationals on US soil and by implication allows, but does not require, the same for US citizens. That detention authority is derived from the application of the law of war. Once the law of war is considered applicable on US soil you get all the dubious 'benefits' it brings, including the number one thing the law of war allows you to do which is kill individuals you believe to be combatants in the conflict. This is why the kind of stunt drafting that you see in this section of the NDAA is so dangerous.
Hardly ridiculous, the NDAA further entrenches the war paradigm in US law. It requires military detention for foreign nationals on US soil and by implication allows, but does not require, the same for US citizens. That detention authority is derived from the application of the law of war. Once the law of war is considered applicable on US soil you get all the dubious ‘benefits’ it brings, including the number one thing the law of war allows you to do which is kill individuals you believe to be combatants in the conflict. This is why the kind of stunt drafting that you see in this section of the NDAA is so dangerous.
But don't take my word for it here is Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC), one of the prime movers of the detention amendments, speaking during the debate on the NDAA: “The statement of authority to detain, does apply to American citizens and it designates the world as the battlefield, including the homeland.”
But don’t take my word for it here is Senator Lindsay Graham (R-SC), one of the prime movers of the detention amendments, speaking during the debate on the NDAA: “The statement of authority to detain, does apply to American citizens and it designates the world as the battlefield, including the homeland.”
This law is absurd. The reason 2/3 of the identified threats are wrong is because there is no threat 2/3 of the time. This law is to feed the military corporations. They are willing to murder US citizens to feed their hungry gullets.
This law is absurd. The reason 2/3 of the identified threats are wrong is because there is no threat 2/3 of the time. This law is to feed the military corporations. They are willing to murder US citizens to feed their hungry gullets.
Even elementary school children learned that respect is not only a two way street, it must also be earned. We are happy to align with such Universal constants. In the spirit of fair play, we wish to serve you in only one way, which is thus: we remind you that authority can be taken away as easily as it was assumed without your victims ever having to step outside their Intentions. Regards to those who have fallen and can't get up.
Even elementary school children learned that respect is not only a two way street, it must also be earned. We are happy to align with such Universal constants. In the spirit of fair play, we wish to serve you in only one way, which is thus: we remind you that authority can be taken away as easily as it was assumed without your victims ever having to step outside their Intentions. Regards to those who have fallen and can’t get up.
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This act is in the VIOLATION of our bill of rights. I can't believe such a law can give the US military the option to detain US citizens suspected of participating or aiding in terrorist activities without a trial, indefinitely.
This act is in the VIOLATION of our bill of rights. I can’t believe such a law can give the US military the option to detain US citizens suspected of participating or aiding in terrorist activities without a trial, indefinitely.
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