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Forum Post: Senate Passes Bill Allowing Indefinite Detention of Americans

Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 30, 2011, 3:09 a.m. EST by WolfmanJack (0)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

This Bill poses a significant threat to all 99 percenters. Instead of being arrested and locked up overnight, the US Senate just voted to allow the US military to keep you in jail "indefinitely," without any evidence of wrongdoing whatsoever. Yep, no jury, no trial, no bail and no evidence. Sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing...

http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/senate-passes-bill-allowing-indefinite-detention-americans-considers-bill-authorizing-mo#comment-1929013

Comments following the article are interesting. Michael Moore's "10 Things We Want -- A Proposal for Occupy Wall Street." I urge anyone who hasn't seen it to view it here (scroll down):

http://michaelmoore.com/words/mike-friends-blog/where-does-occupy-wall-street-go-here

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[-] 2 points by alouis (1511) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Under questioning from Rand Paul, co-sponsor John McCain said that Americans suspected of terrorism could be sent to Guantanamo.

You can hear the statements from Levin and McCain on today’s broadcast of KFPA’s Letters and Politics.

As Raw Story notes:

The provision would authorize the military to indefinitely detain individuals — including U.S. citizens — without charge or trial.

“If these provisions pass, we could see American citizens being sent to Guantanamo Bay,” Rand said in the video. “This should be alarming to everyone watching this proceeding today. Because it puts every single American citizen at risk.”

“There is one thing and one thing only protecting innocent Americans from being detained at will at the hands of a too-powerful state — our Constitution, and the checks we put on government power,” he continued. “Should we err today and remove some of the most important checks on state power in the name of fighting terrorism, well, then the terrorists have won.”

“Detaining citizens without a court trial is not American. In fact, this alarming arbitrary power is reminiscent of Egypt’s ‘permanent’ Emergency Law authorizing preventive indefinite detention, a law that provoked ordinary Egyptians to tear their country apart last spring and risk their lives to fight.” The debate is also being streamed live on CSpan-2.

While passage of the bill would make the Founding Fathers roll in their grave, it might not change that much. As former constitutional lawyer Glenn Greenwald notes:

With very few exceptions, the McCain-Levin bill, awful though it is, doesn’t create any powers beyond what the O Admin thinks it now has.

[-] 1 points by MattLHolck (16833) from San Diego, CA 12 years ago

I do not approve of indefinite detention for anyone

[-] 1 points by Windsofchange (1044) 12 years ago

http://armedservices.house.gov/index.cfm/files/serve?File_id=23d194d7-78c9-4c57-b2d9-31bc3bb7daeb

Came across this today on the NDAA bill. I am watching this bill very closely. We all need to stay vigilant.

[-] 1 points by Zoom729 (1) 12 years ago

It is definitely unconstitutional; but our current right-wing Supreme Court will probably uphold it. Even if Court overturns it will take years. In the meantime we are all at risk. As Ben Franklin said: "He who would sacrifice freedom for security deserves neither!"

[-] 1 points by warbstar (210) 12 years ago

For two days in a row now, the Senate has blocked amendments that would have undone the indefinite detention provision.

This Senate is determined to give the military police powers to be used against Americans. That is alarming.

The Senate has voted in favor of allowing the military to dispense with Miranda rights, the right to a trial, the need for probable cause, and they are supporting granting the military the power to detain any suspect for life.

We cannot make this stuff up!

[-] 1 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Carl Levin Democrat of Michigan is the author of the military detention of Americans -- a measure crafted by Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.). Here are his office numbers:

(202) 224-6221 (313) 226-6020 (906) 789-0052 (616) 456-2531 (517) 377-1508 (231) 947-9569 (989) 754-2494 (586) 573-9145

Call Carl Levin and tell him he is a traitor and will be sent to Guantanamo.

Michigan militia should arrest him now!

From Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/29/senate-votes-to-let-military-detain-americans-indefinitely_n_1119473.html

[-] 1 points by Socrates469bc (608) from New York, NY 12 years ago

Hitler came to power legally (He made all the laws). Corporations are doing the same in America. They have gained personhood.

Now they can send striking workers and occupiers to Guantanamo.

Coordinated Attacks in Philly & LA:

End the Patriot Act. It is being used against Americans. We lost our constitution:

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/repeal-patriot-act/JF1pdPKg

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions#!/petition/end-patriot-act/nH20qwfr

[-] 1 points by yoss33 (269) 12 years ago

Will people in Occupy or at protests or promoting change within government be labelled as 'terrorists'? The potential implications of this bill are unpleasant to think of.

How much will this contribute to or take away from Occupy support?

[-] 1 points by yoss33 (269) 12 years ago

Unbelievable, in not a good way.