The NDAA 2012 -- could there more to it than gouges the eyes?

[melonkali]

I'm completely befuddled by Obama's actions, and Biden's support, and the Democrats in Congress (whose inexplicable behavior assured an over-ride of any Presidential veto). The short non-debate. None of this makes any sense.

UNLESS there's more to it. What that might be, I haven't a clue. It would allow military detention and PROTECTION of any American citizens who were involved with 9/11 and knew something about "bigger fish" involved in 9/11?? Is that even plausible as a wild speculation?? If so, then the Cheney-ites surely would have gotten wind and killed the bill, don't you think?

I'm lost. Anyone have a speculative idea along the "there's more to this" line?

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Can you help me understand this, pls?

Has the bill passed the House and the Senate?

If so, where in the bill is the section that you are currently referring to?

[melonkali]

2. The Bill is Passed and Signed

The contentious unlimited detention sections are 1031 and 1032 --

While 1032 seems to offer some questionable protection for U.S. citizens from unlimited military detention, by giving precedence, in at least some cases, to civilian law authorities, there is some question about the term "not required" as meaning "still an option",

Section 1031, paragraph (e), the Feinstein addition, which exempted American Citizens on American soil from military arrest and unlimited military detention, including the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques", without official charges or notification, or any other public acknowledgement or civil recourse -- that paragraph was eliminated in the "reconciliation version" of the bill which Obama finally signed on Dec. 15. Apparently it was Obama who insisted on its elimination, saying that no one should be exempt from the law.

These sections fall under military laws of war, and such measures as unlimited detention can remain in effect until "the end of hostilities" which, considering the nature of the "war on terror" would seem indefinite indeed.

People can be picked up and detained without evidence, the criteria being that the President OR the military suspects them of belligerent acts (not defined) or association with or supporting others who are suspected of engaging in belligerent acts against the U.S. or its coalition members.

Can of worms, eh?

[Bolo Boffin]

3. Obama may have signed it by now.

Here's Adam Serwer on the NDAA detention policies.

http://motherjones.com/mojo/2011/12/defense-bill-passed-so-what-does-it-do-ndaa

The conference report (latest version, the one the President will sign if he hasn't already) is here:

http://democrats.rules.house.gov/112/text/112_hr1540conf_txt.pdf

Page 654 of that PDF is where the sections start, 1021-1023 in this final numbering.

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. Arrghhhhh