..."The Authorization for Use of Military Force necessarily includes the authority to address the continuing and evolving threat posed by these groups."
The groups included in this "sleeper' provision are, namely Al Qaeda, the Taliban and a nondescript listing labeled "associated forces." The vague nature of the language is the key to further insulating the executive from any accusations of wrongdoing.
"Associated forces" could mean anyone--there is no criterion established to prove or disprove the President's word. Furthermore, this President and any future presidents can and will hide behind the mantra of "classified information' and "national security.'
The terms "continuing" and "evolving threat' also fit neatly into the legal realm of a dictator answerable to no one. A "continuing' and "evolving threat' presents no timeline, no expiration dates.
Section 1034 grants any president a blank check to wage indefinite war against anyone, anwhere, at any time. The ACLU spoke out against Section 1034 back in May of 2011 when it was still in committee. Here is the ACLU legal team's opinion on the dangers posed by Section 1034:
..."Unlike previous grants of authority for the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, the proposed legislation would allow a president to use military force whenever terrorism suspects are present in the world, regardless of whether there has been any harm to US citizens, or any attack on the United States, or any imminent threat of an attack.
The legislation is broad enough to permit a president to use military force within the US and against Americans. The legislation contains no expiration date, and no criteria to determine when a president's authority to use military force would end."
To President Obama's credit, the ACLU explained in May that his administration did not seek this power. The Obama administration made it clear that the tools to fight "terrorism' were adequate as stated in the previous AUMF (Authorization to Use Military Force).
Section 1034 accomplishes one additional goal--it guarantees the continuous need for military arms and "associated supplies' through the doctrine of endless war. No Super Committee cuts to arms manufacturers here -- a president "friendly' to the needs of corporations like Raytheon, Boeing, Blackwater (now called Xe), Halliburton, etc. "will insure a constant flow of military contractor contracts, while Granny eats catfood and little Johnny works as an "assistant janitor.'
Once again, there is no public denouncement of this bill--whether the Senate or House version -- no major media figures have brought this critical attack on democracy itself to the public. We finally hear about "Occupy Wall Street' but no one outside of the alternative media has mentioned this developing story.
The one point all of these "honorable' legislators fail to comprehend is the simple fact that we shouldn't be having this conversation at all. The justification of "indefinite detention' for those merely accused but not tried in a legitimate court of law -- is beyond obscenity.
The use of our own military against our citizens to police and force compliance in a presidential/military dictatorship, complete with powers to wage endless war -- is nothing short of a military/political coup--an act of treason.
In short, the US Senate and the House of Representatives--are in the process of establishing a military dictatorship. Any senators or congressman supporting this or merely remaining silent are as guilty as Levin, McCain, Graham and McKeon. As Dr. King explained, there comes a time when silence equals betrayal.
The European law which granted similar powers...
Senators Graham, Levin, McCain and Congressman McKeon--along with the US Senate and House of Representatives are in "good company'with other alleged "republics'--mandating the suspension of civil liberties in the name of national security.
In part of what is now called the EU-- another law advocating indefinite detention of alleged terrorists while simultaneously nullifying a person's civil rights to a trial was similarly defended. Corporate manufacturers of military armaments and military supplies used this law to guarantee continued profits through a similar use of continued war.
The name of the law was " The Notverordnung zum Schutz von Volk und Staat (Decree For the Protection of People and State) . The principle architect of this law was Reich President von Hindenburg -- under the dictate of Adolf Hitler.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
