Got an e-mail from one of my clients referring to Drudge, but with a link to Prison Planet...
That article was complete BS. If you read through Section 1031 of the Bill, it defines the status of the people kept at Guantanomo and specifically excludes US Citizens. Section 1032 extends the reward for information authorization. Don’t buy into the hysteria — but this does give a pretty good idea of why the ACLU is opposed; they want their attorney frat brothers to get a shot at cutting loose some of these jihadis so they can recycle and maybe actually kill a few more us next time around.
If I read the bill correctly, U.S. citizens are exempted for “conduct taking place within the U.S.” Yes, maybe I am paranoid and untrusting of the gov, but seems this could be interpreted as authorizing the military to snatch up American citizens overseas, pretty much when and where it pleases, simply by declaring them part of an “associated force” or someone who “has directly supported” people alleged to be terrorists.
And section 1032 concerns only “military custody” — someone quick give me a rigorous definition of “military custody”. Does it mean imprisonment for >24/48/72 hrs? >30 days? Can they snatch you and turn you over to a non-military facility (i.e., a prison in Eastern Europe or elsewhere, an ad hoc CIA prison, etc.)? Can you be held indefinitely in “administrative detention” in the U.S., at least until your Hamdi-v-Rumsfeld-style case works its way up the federal court food chain to SCOTUS? None of these options are military custody, and the wording of 1031 and 1032 are so wavy-gravy that these could arguably be permissible. Why on earth would we trust the government with this kind of power? Certainly Levin and McCain are old pros when it comes to crafting legislation. Why did they not write a better-delineated bill? I think their intent was to blur the lines with respect to treatment of U.S. citizens, particularly after we blasted al-Alawki via drone.
I want to thank both of you for taking the time to help clarify what I posted on Monday. Those type of emails filled with disinformation can confuse anyone. Thanks again for your help. I was pushed for time yesterday and today.