The enemy within

A provision in the National Defense Authorization Act certainly has wide ranging authority to allow the U.S. military to pick up and detain American citizens without charges or trial in this country and the world. And the U.S. Senate is posed to enact the law despite a veto threat from President Barack Obama. Not alot has been reported in the big media, but there's been plenty of concern from national defense, intelligence and law enforcement that indefinite detention was not necessary. That provision of indefinite detention applies to anywhere the president decides to use the military including the United States. That expansion of the military's detention authority was drafted by Republican Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and John McCain of Arizona without a hearing and speeding through the Senate this week. It passed the House last spring where it had the support of Republican Congressman Mike Pence who has been a staunch supporter of the Patriot Act and other means to fight terrorism. However, we the people can see how giving the U.S. military authority to operate on American soil could be used to stop civil uprisings whether it is Occupy groups or whoever Homeland Security decides is a terrorist either foreign or domestic.  The Senate's will was illustrated Tuesday when it rejected an amendment by Democratic Sen. Mark Udall of Colorado to delete the indefinite detention provision and have a review of that authority. Udall did not believe the military needed worldwide authority, including over American citizens It is likely Indiana Republican Sens. Richard Lugar and Dan Coats will approve the NDAA, and they both voted against Udall's amendment. A Lugar aide said there were still safeguards when it comes to American citizens. Andy Fisher, Lugar's press secretary, said, "Provisions included the NDAA provide the President the authority to detain members of al Qaeda and related groups that plan and carry out attacks against the United States and our allies. Designation of individuals as enemy combatants is subject to both administrative and judicial review to ensure appropriate constitutional rights are protected." The American Civil Liberties Union has raised grave concerns about indefinite detention and the use of U.S. military in this country. Even some congressmen like Justin Amash, a Democrat from Michigan, said the bill was crafted to mislead the public. It seems the time has come to end all war and take those trillions of dollars to help American citizens and not detain them.

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