"Guantánamo Forever?" - Congress Passes NDAA

This news was buried... even on the internet.  I had to search hard to find a news story.  Welcome to hell!

 

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/congress-passes-662-billion-defense-bill-aka-ndaa

"Guantánamo Forever?" - Congress Passes $662 Billion Defense Bill, Aka The NDAA

Tyler Durden's picture


Congress just passed the National Defense Authorization Act in a 283-to-136 vote. 190 Republicans and 93 Democrats voted for; 43 Republicans and 93 Democrats voted "against." Prepare to be arrested, without charge, simply because someone "up there" believes you engage in "terroristy" stuff. Good luck proving them wrong.

From Reuters:

The U.S. House of Representatives approved a defense bill on Wednesday requiring the military to handle suspected militants linked to al Qaeda, acting not long after President Barack Obama removed a veto threat from the controversial legislation.

 

The bill is expected to pass the Senate this week and then go to Obama's desk for his signature into law.

 

Shortly before the House vote, the White House announced the president's advisers would not recommend a veto, although they said they still had concerns about the measure.

 

The measure also imposes new sanctions against Iran's central bank and pre-emptively freezes some aid to Pakistan.

And CNN:

The White House lifted a veto threat against a giant $662 billion defense authorization bill on Wednesday after legislators made changes in language involving detainees.

 

In particular, the legislators added language to make clear that nothing in the bill requiring military custody of al Qaeda suspects would interfere with the ability of civilian law enforcement to carry out terrorism investigations and interrogations in the United States.

 

A statement by White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said the changes mean that President Obama's advisers will not recommend a veto. The measure is expected to come up for votes in the House and Senate this week.

 

Democrats to offer changes to payroll tax cut proposal

 

At issue was the president's authority in deciding whether people detained in terrorism investigations would be held in military or civilian custody.

 

Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said the legislation includes a "national security waiver" that allows the president to transfer a suspect from military to civilian custody if he chooses.

Swell, in other words it won't be a colonel pulling your nails out... it will be some spook in a grey coat.

And now, for an opinion:

Guantánamo Forever? via the NYT

Charles C. Krulak and Joseph P. Hoar are retired four-star Marine generals.

IN his inaugural address, President Obama called on us to “reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.” We agree. Now, to protect both, he must veto the National Defense Authorization Act that Congress is expected to pass this week.

This budget bill — which can be vetoed without cutting financing for our troops — is both misguided and unnecessary: the president already has the power and flexibility to effectively fight terrorism.

One provision would authorize the military to indefinitely detain without charge people suspected of involvement with terrorism, including United States citizens apprehended on American soil. Due process would be a thing of the past. Some claim that this provision would merely codify existing practice. Current law empowers the military to detain people caught on the battlefield, but this provision would expand the battlefield to include the United States — and hand Osama bin Laden an unearned victory long after his well-earned demise.

A second provision would mandate military custody for most terrorism suspects. It would force on the military responsibilities it hasn’t sought. This would violate not only the spirit of the post-Reconstruction act limiting the use of the armed forces for domestic law enforcement but also our trust with service members, who enlist believing that they will never be asked to turn their weapons on fellow Americans. It would sideline the work of the F.B.I. and local law enforcement agencies in domestic counterterrorism. These agencies have collected invaluable intelligence because the criminal justice system — unlike indefinite military detention — gives suspects incentives to cooperate.

Mandatory military custody would reduce, if not eliminate, the role of federal courts in terrorism cases. Since 9/11, the shaky, untested military commissions have convicted only six people on terror-related charges, compared with more than 400 in the civilian courts.

A third provision would further extend a ban on transfers from Guantánamo, ensuring that this morally and financially expensive symbol of detainee abuse will remain open well into the future. Not only would this bolster Al Qaeda’s recruiting efforts, it also would make it nearly impossible to transfer 88 men (of the 171 held there) who have been cleared for release. We should be moving to shut Guantánamo, not extend it.

Having served various administrations, we know that politicians of both parties love this country and want to keep it safe. But right now some in Congress are all too willing to undermine our ideals in the name of fighting terrorism. They should remember that American ideals are assets, not liabilities.

Knightspirit's picture

There is obviously a systematic plan with these bills - all of which are being passed within a few months of each other. This one - without any comments from the mainstream press - is clearly designed to provide a legal means to put people into the FEMA camps - and if they get full - offshore. The next one I hear is in the works is the Codex food bill - that has been devised through the UN or something and has been talked about for years. It will lock down control of all of our food distributiuoin and sales etc etc. I hear that is being voted on now as well.

It's all lining up to a climax in 2012. The internet is next of course - we all know it's coming...

I just got this in my email - maybe we should all watch this movie , which is supposed to tie it all together:

"Worth every minute of the 5 hours it lasts. Yes I know its long, but I did it in one run because it is sooo interesting and you won't feel the time. A lot of your questions will be answered.   It affects the whole planet. Watch it quickly before they unload the video from Youtube. Much love. "

Copy and paste: or click

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd1Twnoq-Dw&feature=related<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rd1Twnoq-Dw&amp;feature=related> 

Wendy's picture

I think Ffg's SaLuSa post is a hopeful sign that these plans will not come to be. I've responded with some research that David Wilcock is doing concerning a group of nations that will put an end to this nonsense soon.

http://www.gatheringspot.net/topic/general-discussion/awakening-goes-full-speed-ahead

Noa's picture

Journalist Chris Hedges Sues Obama Admin over Indefinite Detention of U.S. Citizens Approved in NDAA

Chris_hedges_ndaa Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges has filed suit against President Obama and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to challenge the legality of the National Defense Authorization Act, which includes controversial provisions authorizing the military to jail anyone it considers a terrorism suspect anywhere in the world, without charge or trial. Sections of the bill are written so broadly that critics say they could encompass journalists who report on terror-related issues, such as Hedges, for supporting enemy forces. "It’s clearly unconstitutional," Hedges says of the bill. "It is a huge and egregious assault against our democracy. It overturns over 200 years of law, which has kept the military out of domestic policing." We speak with Hedges, now a senior fellow at the Nation Institute and former New York Times foreign correspondent who was part of a team of reporters that was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2002 for the paper’s coverage of global terrorism. We are also joined by Hedges’ attorney Carl Mayer, who filed the litigation on his behalf in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

 

Watch the Democracy Now broadcast here  http://www.democracynow.org/2012/1/17/journalist_chris_hedges_sues_obama_admin

 

Wendy's picture

Noa's picture

 

Ron Paul must feel like the lone voice of reason within a sea of insanity.

 

I know the feeling.

Wendy's picture

Wink The seas are changing.  The awakening is happening.

I found this camelot video both interesting and hopeful. This military man has some interesting inside information related to 9/11. (he is the type of whisleblower that the 9/11 truthers have been waiting for - in the video he explains why he didn't come forward earlier) At the end he talks about timelines. The PTW handed him this problem: That all the timelines they forsaw ended in 2012 with a mass awakening and there was no scenario of changes that could stop it. Like a master chess player they are currently trying to prolong the end of the game, knowing it will soon be up.

 

Dear Thrive Movement,

 

As the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA - with its indefinite detention provisions) and its totalitarian twin the EAA (Enemy Expatriation Act) continue to dominate the alternative media conversation, we thought it would be a good time to step back and examine the larger agenda behind these legislative nightmares.  

 

When we understand what the larger agenda is we can then develop solutions that are truly sufficient to meet the challenges we face.

 

After a lifetime journey of pursuing the question, 'what is keeping us from thriving?' my research revealed that a small group of financial elite have gained control over key areas of our lives - energy, food, health care, education and more - and are the single greatest threat to humanity's ability to thrive.

 

At first, a global domination agenda to control others was hard for me to consider. But as I spent many years getting myself educated about it, many things that hadn't made sense began to fall into place. A different story began to emerge which, as horrible as it was to consider, actually explained more than ever before.

 

I came to realize the desperate drive to dominate others is based in a worldview of scarcity and fear. The controlling elite seem to believe the only options are to control, or be controlled, and realizing that gave me a better understanding of why they have chosen their current route.

 

So, WHAT is the Global Domination Agenda?

 

It is a plan by powerful private bankers to take over all our primary systems (money, energy, food, media, etc.) and to establish a sole global authority - with themselves in charge. They use the media, central banks, multinational corporations, governments, major foundations, and international agencies such as the IMF and World Bank to implement their strategies.

 

To date they have successfully brought down countries across the globe, including Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Argentina, Tanzania, Indonesia, Brazil, Poland, Mexico, Bolivia, Thailand, Iceland, the Soviet Union, Japan, Greece and scores of others. They are now attempting to dismantle the U.S. by collapsing the dollar and making sure Americans are in debt they can't repay.

 

It's not that humans are incapable of thriving. It's that we've been duped into a system that is designed to consolidate wealth and power in the hands of a controlling few, rather than provide a real opportunity for everyone to thrive.

 

While exposing this agenda and strategically challenging deceptive systems such as central banks and fiat money, people are beginning to come up with new ways to organize and cooperate - based on core moral principles rather than corrupt politics. We can withdraw our participation from this destructive agenda and liberate our planet and our true human potential.

 

To that end, please help reverse the NDAA by telling Congress to block the indefinite detention of people. 

 

Thanks for everything you are doing to create a world where we can all thrive.

 

Sincerely,

Foster, Kimberly, and the THRIVE team

 

PS - please keep an eye out for next week's email where we will discuss HOW the agenda is being implemented so our solution strategies can be most leveraged.

 

The Gathering Spot is a PEERS empowerment website
"Dedicated to the greatest good of all who share our beautiful world"