January 2012: Legislation Introduced to Repeal NDAA Indefinite Detention of Americans

by Robin Pugh-Perry, Mhs

Washington, DC – January 18, 2012  Texas Congressman and Republican Presidential contender Ron Paul, stood before the House of Representatives to introduce legislation to repeal section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act 2012, aka, the NDAA. This bill, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on New Year’s Eve 2011, authorizes, for the first time ever, the indefinite detention of American citizens. No habeas corpus, no due process, no lawyers, nada.

As seen on the Rachel Maddow Show in May 2009, President Obama gave a speech at the National Archives on developing a new policy of preventative detention, without trial, for people deemed as enemy combatants. Based on his speech, these are persons whom the president “suspected” “might” commit crimes against America “in the future.” These persons were to be held until the threat of commission of any such crimes no longer existed – meaning until death, 0r up to and including forever, whichever came first. Although the language in the NDAA describing the detention itself has been changed from “preventive” to “indefinite,”  both contexts are equally disturbing and both clearly still apply.

Prior to President Obama signing the NDAA into law, such detention of persons, including Americans, was prohibited. The rule of law called for a trial to be held to demonstrate the existence of, nature of, and penalties warranted for, any crimes committed relative to acts of war or otherwise. As it stands now the NDAA, because of its intentionally vague language, allows for the very subjective application of this new code to persons based on their presumed beliefs and without any evidence that they have actually committed any crime. This change in the law as has essentially shifted the context of what defines a criminal act to a context of who defines a criminal thought. This paradigm shift reshapes the legal landscape from one that is based in fact to one that is based in conjecture. As such, the NDAA sets a very dangerous precedent for changes in the future interpretation and application of all law in this country – from fact to conjecture.

The NDAA literally shreds the Constitution, Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence; it can be applied to any American – even those who have done absolutely nothing wrong; and it shows no concern for the fact that mistakes happen.

Per The Innocence Project, 222 former US prisoners have been exonerated by DNA evidence since 2000. The average length of time served by exonerees is 13.5 years and the total number of years served since 1989 is approximately 3,800. Yes. That’s three thousand, eight hundred years. Compare and consider that under the NDAA detainees have no such rights as there is no due process.

This should never happen either in America or to American citizens.

Of course, mainstream media is complicit in all of this through its failure to adequately report on issues and events of great import to the American public because they’re too busy setting up that programming for Housewives of Wherever and American Voice Factor. Though few, if any Americans would ever willingly decide that it is better to be less free, you can’t act on what you don’t know.

Now you know.

(Video) Ron Paul introduces January 2012 legislation on the floor of the House of Representatives to repeal section 1021 of the NDAA below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tg69QM1yXQQ#!