So we were chatting with Sen. David Vitter over concerns we had with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2012 (S.1867), amendment No.
1274. I decided to share this conversation as my first post. It gives a rather nice insight to the direction the Gov is heading and his mindset.
The U.S. Senate recently passed the National Defense Authorization Act that included language to address the handling of terrorists and enemy
belligerents detained by the United States. Over recent years, there have been several proposals, including the Terrorist Detainees Procedures Act,
which would grant those detained as enemy belligerents for suspected terrorist acts against the United States the rights and privileges of American
citizens. I do not believe enemy belligerents have constitutional privileges, including access to federal courts to question our military authority
and control.
He openly does not believe that "enemy belligerents" get protection under the bill of rights, "including access to federal courts to question our
military authority and control" This is setting a very scary precedent If you remember it was the Enemy Belligerent Interrogation, Detention, and
Prosecution Act of 2010 that allowed the detention of an unprivileged enemy belligerent without criminal charges or trial for the duration of
hostilities. Essentially American citizens are now labeled "enemy belligerents"
And it is no longer "all men are created equal" it is "all Americans who are not belligerent are created equal until we say otherwise."
"I supported the FY12 defense bill because I have great concerns about the possibility of allowing into the United States individuals who
were and will likely remain a threat to our homeland security. I believe the safety and security of our country depends upon allowing the military to
pursue options to maintain our security, including detaining and interrogating terrorists. "
Why travel halfway across the world to imprison "read detain" people never charged with a crime only to fly them back here and "allowing into the
United States"... I know. It is because there is no oversight in what you do here with the prisoners. you know the whole Spanish inquisition torture
thing... torture someone until they lie and confess to something just to stop the pain.
The Obama Administration has effectively created a false choice for dealing with terrorists captured overseas: either bring them to the United
States to be given the full constitutional rights available to U.S. citizens in our civilian court system or release them to return to the fight
against the United States. The detainee provisions of the FY12 defense bill (S. 1867), which were unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate Armed Services
Committee, would address this issue. Critics have launched several misleading arguments against these provisions.
Yes blame Obama (If you don't know by now I am a republican and support Ron Paul), but dangit not everything is Obama's fault. It is the senate's
and congress' fault for allowing these kinds of things and not representing the will of the people.
However, the practice of holding captured terrorists in military detention is based in long historical practice, even back to George
Washington, and the provisions in the 2012 defense bill are supported by Supreme Court precedent, past practice, and common sense. Rest assured that
I will keep your thoughts in mind as the U.S. Senate considers legislation affecting the Guantanamo detainees.
Much like those Japanese American citizens oops I mean enemy belligerents *wink* were held in prisons, and yes I am sure you will keep this in mind
the next time you vote.
So there you have it Louisiana. The man that is representing your will. Every time he votes on an issue in the senate he is saying "This is what the
people of my state want because they put me here."
