Just got an email from Cantwell on National Defense Authorization Act of 2012

I did not find her response consoling. It gives me even more pause for concern. Perhaps I'm misreading what she's said, but it sounds evasive to me. Opinions?

Senator Maria Cantwell wrote:

Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) introduced the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 on May 5, 2011. This legislation was passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee by a vote of 26-0 on November 15, 2011. The National Defense Authorization Act is enacted each fiscal year to specify the budget and expenditures of the U.S. Department of Defense.

The National Defense Authorization Act for 2012 includes numerous provisions that relate to the treatment of terrorism detainees. One such provision requires that any detainee caught on U.S. soil must be remanded to the U.S. military for custody. This provision is strongly opposed by the White House and the Department of Defense; both entities have stated that it will limit current options available to our counter-terrorism officials.

However, the legislation also allows the Administration to waive the mandatory custody requirement. The bill also provides for an exemption for any mandatory custody transfer that would interfere with ongoing civilian law enforcement surveillance or interrogation efforts. Please be assured that I will keep your thoughts should I have the opportunity to vote on these or similar provisions.

and it sounds like she is trying to sell the waivers as an excuse for passing this outrage. We had the same sort of garbage all over the media and DU yesterday, bogus arguments that American citizens would not be endangered by this because of the waiver.

Let's be clear: There is nothing in this bill that PROHIBITS the detention of American citizens. The waiver merely states that doing so for Americans is not a REQUIREMENT.

There is NO excuse for this kind of fascistic policy. Not in our country.

Any president. Obama, or the next Republican.

:sarcasm:

With the failure of the Udall Amendment and the likely passing of the bill in the Senate, the last hope to kill this bill with in its current form is for a presidential veto. Use your voice to influence the Obama Administration to follow through with its statement that they will veto this act. Please consider signing the online petition on the White House website (link below). Thanks

http://wh.gov/jeY

no matter how many times I try to copy their stupid confirmation letters.

"Limit current options"? What the hell does THAT mean?

The WH and DoD are not protesting the act because it is wrong, or unconstitutional, or even because it makes the US look bad. They are against the act because it infringes on the president's power.

-- Mal