Anti torture activists dressed in the orange jumpsuits and black hoods that are now emblematic of the policies of torture and abuse that the Obama administration (AFP Photo / Karen Bleier) |
Legislation
that will let President Obama and future leaders of America detain and torture
Americans indefinitely has made it to the White House, where it is expected to
be soon signed into law by the commander-in-chief.
The
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, of NDAA FY2012, was
overwhelmingly approved by the House and Senate earlier this month. While the
legislation indeed had its critics, the act was inexplicably missed by the
mainstream media, who neglected to inform Americans of the dangerous blows to
constitutional rights that will become a reality under the law.
The bill,
which is annually updated to outline spending for the Department of Defense,
contains several provisions for 2012 that will turn America, as Senator Lindsey
Graham puts it, “into a battlefield.” As the US continues an open-ended war on
terror, now American citizens suspected to be linked to terrorist enemies can
be detained in prison indefinitely and subjected to torture tactics previously
outlawed.
“What this
legislation does,” lectured Senator Karl Levin earlier this month, “says from
the Congress’ point-of-view, that we expressly authorize the indefinite
detention” of someone deemed a threat. “We recognize the authority of this
president and every other president to hold an enemy combatant indefinitely,
whether they are captured home or abroad, because that only makes sense.”
“How long
can you hold them? As long as it takes to make us safe,” said Graham.
The senator
added that, “when you join the enemy…we aren’t worried about how we’re going to
prosecute you right away.” Because of this, Miranda Rights should not be read
to suspected criminals and additionally the right to an attorney is also
suspended under the act.
Additionally,
the president can send American-born detainees to foreign prisons and can at
last legally take the offense and launch cyber wars against alleged enemy
nations.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.