American citizens captured on American soil getting the right to a public jury trial. Not only is the question controversial, but even the idea of bringing up the matter to a vote is sparking anger from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D – NV), who says it is getting in the way of the latest massive military spending bill.
Estimated at roughly two-thirds of a trillion dollars, Sen. Reid sought to push the vote through for a rubber stamping by Thanksgiving, and got a promise from Sens. Carl Levin (D – MI) and John McCain (R – AZ) that “non-germane amendments” wouldn’t even be considered. This has prompted Sen. Rand Paul (R – KY) to filibuster the bill.
That’s because Sen. Paul’s amendment seeks to guarantee that whenever the US military captures American citizens on American soil, they get a real trial. A recent Appeals Court ruling said it was in the “public interest” to allow the military to ignore due process and detain Americans as long as it wants without recourse to a court.
Sen. Reid argues that the bill is “non-germane” and shouldn’t even get a vote. Given the number of hawks in the Senate, even if it does get a vote there’s no guarantee it would pass, but even public debate would be an uncomfortable reminder to Americans that the military can disappear them off the streets at will per last year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
"when the US military captures US citizens on US soil."
For us older folks, we can remember when such a thing was completely unheard of. A law called Posse Comitatus made that illegal. Today we are fighting over whether after the military grabs a US citizen from US soil as to whether they even get a trail or if they just disappear into the gulag somewhere.
Just a road sign to how far we've gone backwards from freedom and liberty in my lifetime.
Good for Rand Paul! He took a lot of flak over the falling out with his father, but he did the right thing here.
"… even public debate would be an uncomfortable reminder to Americans…" I think you give the American people way, way too much credit. As happened during the theft of American Rights immediately after 9/11, the American people (a majority?) are content allowing the government to "protect" them – and if that means that someone is made to disappear without explanation or recourse of appeal…well…it must have been in the best interest of the American people…right?!?! Right.
I give Sen. Paul credit for trying but his attempt will fail as most of these attempts to stop the erosion of Constitutional protections have always, in the long run, failed. Until there is a major change in the composition of the people who sit in the Congress, this will remain the case going forward.
didnt the military round up all the japanese during world war 2 here and stick them in camps ? pff. I think Americans should educate themselves and think military would do this. They should read about some Japanese experiences.
We are in very ominous times. We have a government that despises the American people, and will do everything to undermine, and destroy their rights under the constitution. Obama sanctioned the premeditated murder of Americans if he so desires with no repercussions under the NDAA. Americans better wake up.