More and more Americans are fearful of black uniformed
Homeland Security thugs hauling them off to secret detention and torture camps
for being on "the list". The text of the McCain/Lieberman proposed legislation
is on the surface, seemingly benign. Well, so was "re-location" in World War
II.
This post, expanded [here].
Official Summary
3/4/2010--Introduced.Enemy
Belligerent Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act of 2010 - Requires an
individual who is suspected of engaging in hostilities against the United States
or its coalition partners through an act of terrorism and who may be an
unprivileged enemy belligerent to be placed in military custody for purposes of
initial interrogation and determination of status. Allows the detention and
interrogation of such individuals for a reasonable time after capture or coming
into custody. Defines "unprivileged enemy belligerent" as an
individual who:
(1) has engaged in
hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners;
(2) has purposely and
materially supported hostilities against the United States or its coalition
partners; or
(3) was a part of al
Qaeda at the time of capture. Authorizes the President to establish an
interagency team composed of executive branch personnel with expertise in
national security, terrorism, intelligence, interrogation, or law enforcement
to interrogate an individual placed in military custody and to determine if
such individual is an unprivileged enemy belligerent. Designates such team as a
high-value detainee interrogation group. Designates certain individuals in
military custody as high value detainees based upon the potential threat such
individuals pose for an attack on the United States, its citizens, or military
personnel, the potential intelligence value of such individuals, or membership
in al Qaeda or an affiliated terrorist group. Directs the high-value detainee
interrogation group to conduct interrogations of such individuals and make
preliminary determinations whether such individuals are unprivileged enemy
belligerents. Deems as the paramount purpose of such interrogations the
protection of U.S.
civilians and facilities through thorough and professional interrogation for
intelligence purposes. Prohibits the use of Department of Justice (DOJ)
appropriated funds to prosecute an unprivileged enemy belligerent in an Article
III court. Allows the detention of an unprivileged enemy belligerent without
criminal charges or trial for the duration of hostilities against the United States
or its coalition partners in which the individual has engaged or which the
individual has purposely and materially supported.
