Indefinite Detention: Senate Votes Down Military Imprisonment Of Americans

[kpete]

Source: Huffington Post

WASHINGTON -- The Senate took a step Thursday toward ending the indefinite detention of Americans in the U.S., voting for a narrow amendment that some civil liberties groups opposed, even though they said it was in the right direction.

The measure, offered by Sen. Dianne Feistein (D-Calif.) as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, specifies that citizens and legal residents suspected of terrorism in the U.S. cannot be held without trial indefinitely.

"I know this is a sensitive subject, but I really believe we stand on the values of our country, and the value of our country is justice for all," said Feinstein before the Senate voted 67 to 29 to add her provision to the NDAA.

....................

The key sentence in her measure says: "An authorization to use military force, a declaration of war, or any similar authority shall not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States apprehended in the United States, unless an Act of Congress expressly authorizes such detention."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/29/indefinite-detention-senate-military-imprisonment_n_2215305.html

[BlueToTheBone]

1. Good step Dianne. n/t

[meow2u3]

2. ...unless an Act of Congress expressly authorizes such detention.

That last clause sounds eerily like an unconstitutional bill of attainder.

[jody]

3. Thanks Senator Feinstein several state/local governments support indefinite detention nullification

but your action is best.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. "lawful permanent resident of the United States"

So ICE can continue to hold illegal immigrants indefinitely.?

I wonder if the gov't can still kill Americans in other countries.
oh, yeah, here is the weasel phrase: "apprehended in the United States"

[kossp]

5. It's a step in the right direction

but it doesn't go far enough, the patriot act needs to be repealed, close guantanamo, end the illegal drone strikes, do away with the no fly list and the terrorist watch lists and once and for all, bring the troops home from Afghanistan.

[bemildred]

6. Butt covering babble, they will continue to imprison whom they please

for as long as they please, for any reason they please.

[kossp]

7. It seems that I'm just as much of a cynic as you are

and, while I hope otherwise, I sadly think you're correct.

[bemildred]

8. I've been watching it for 50 years, I know I'm correct.

We kicked them to the curb in the 70s for a short period, but that's it.