Comment

Comment by Pam Vredenburg on December 18, 2011 at 1:42am

 Dec 16, 2011

http://RTR.org | In what can only be considered a tragic irony, the U.S. Senate passed out of the final conference committee the controversial National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, coinciding with the 220th Anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights. Section 1031 of the National Defense Authorization Act otherwise known as the NDAA, provides broad authority for the federal government to use the military in domestic operations in order to detain Americans indefinitely and without trial. Such a move not only whitewashes the natural rights of Americans, whereby even publicly criticizing the federal government can now rise to the purposefully vague definition of a "belligerent act", it also sits in direct violation of "Posse Comitatus" an 1878 law forbidding use of the military at home and against Americans. Here are Congressman Paul's remarks on the bill: [ROLL PAUL CLIP]

As Congressman Paul stated, the bill requires absolutely no supporting evidence to issue the order of detention, instead leaving it up to the whim of the Executive Branch to act as Judge, Jury, and in some cases having already decreed the power to assassinate Americans earlier in the year, executioner.

The danger behind allowing any law that includes such arbitrary terms, as "belligerent act" simply cannot be overstated as the Department of Homeland Security has already published multiple reports labeling those who support the Constitution or protest the FEDERAL RESERVE to be "domestic belligerents" and thus in the eyes of the federal government a threat to National Security.

Even more disconcerting is the level of pompous disregard elected members of Congress show as they arrogantly eradicate the foundational principles of America, trampling upon the very ideals that helped spark the first American Revolution, with Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina recently stating during debate in the Senate:

"Please know, what will come your way: Death, Detention, and prosecution. And when they say, I want my lawyer, you tell them shut-up, you don't get a lawyer."
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM (SC-R)
Debate on S. 1867
National Defense Authorization Act

Further, Democratic Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, one of the bill's primary sponsors who drafted the original version in secret along with Republican Senator John McCain, states The Obama Administration specifically requested Section 1031 of the bill be expanded to include the indefinite detention of Americans, threatening to veto the bill if it failed to encompass citizens and non-citizens alike.

However one member of Congress has openly stated that the Military should "NOT comply" if the order comes down to arrest ANY American on American soil. Here is Rep Justin Amash last night on Fox Business Andrew Napolitano's show, FREEDOM WATCH:
[ROLL CLIP]

According to the group "OPEN CONGRESS" an organization that tracks federal legislation, the bill receives private-sector support mainly from those involved in the receipt of military contracts, such a Honeywell. Honeywell, a company historically known by the public as a manufacturer of thermostats for heating and air conditioners, is in reality one of the largest U.S. military contractors, with revenues of over $4 billion and enthusiastically supports this draconian piece of legislation.

Thus, this bill now puts everyone whether Tea Party member, Occupy Wall Street protestor, Son or Daughter of the modern Liberty movement in the crosshairs of a federal government who sees the Constitution as an encumbrance upon their absolute and unquestionable rule.

With the bill now clear