Steven Newcomb: Defense bill authorizes detention of citizens

Tuesday, December 6, 2011  

"On December 1, the United States Senate approved the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA/S. 1867) which includes a provision that would approve the indefinite military detention of anyone, including U.S. citizens, “under the law of war without trial.”

Section 1031 of the Act reads in part as follows:

“Congress affirms that the authority of the President to use all necessary and appropriate force…includes the authority for the Armed Forces of the United States to detain covered persons…Detention under the law of war without trial.” This language was drafted in secret by Senators McCain (R-Arizona) and Carl Levin (D-Michigan).

On November 29, Senator Lindsay Graham (R-South Carolina) said on the floor of the Senate: “1031, the statement of authority to detain, does apply to American citizens and it designates the world as the battlefield, including the homeland.”"

Get the Story:
Steven Newcomb: U.S. Senate Authorizes Military to Detain U.S. Citizens (Indian Country Today 12/6)

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