Activism

Updated as of 1.11.2012

Examples of Activism

It doesn't require much. You don't have to do all the things I do. Here is an example of what anybody can do, however, what is most important is sharing this information with at least ONE person, a friend, a coworker,a family relative, someone.

I emailed my state representatives via congress.org after they passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 letting them know they were traitors to sign that bill into  law which allows the US government to have the power to lock up US citizens for life at Guantanamo Bay or other military prisons -- without charge and without trial.

Here is the reply I got:

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On Tue, 1/3/12, Senator Roy Blunt <donotreply@blunt.senate.gov> wrote:

From: Senator Roy Blunt <donotreply@blunt.senate.gov>
Subject: Reply from Senator Roy Blunt
To: dd8175@sbcglobal.net
Date: Tuesday, January 3, 2012, 11:07 AM

Dear David ,

Thank you for contacting me regarding your thoughts on sections 1031 and 1032 of S.1253, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012.

The most important duty of the federal government is to protect our nation's security. Passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is Congress' annual way of ensuring that our troops have what they need to complete their mission today, prepare to meet tomorrow's threats, and receive the support they need when they return home.

Section 1031 of the Defense bill ensures that non-U.S. citizens captured before, during, or after committing an act of terrorism against the United States are not simply read their Miranda rights and added to the prison population. Regardless of where they are captured, these individuals frequently possess intelligence that can prevent large-scale attacks against our nation. These foreign individuals should be tried by military commissions, which are authorized and overseen by Congress. 

Section 1032 exempts U.S. citizens from automatically being tried by a military commission and grants the Executive branch flexibility to determine where to try U.S. citizens, only for these specific acts.  This section represents no change to current U.S. policy, which is already subject to vigorous congressional oversight.  Congressionally authorized commissions have been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court on multiple occasions since World War II and date to our nation's founding as a legal tool for those who engage in acts of war against the country.  

In order to clarify this issue, on December 1, the Senate passed an amendment 99-1 that states that nothing in the Defense Authorization bill changes existing authorities as they relate to the detention of United States citizens who are captured in the United States.

I believe that in a post-September 11th era, we must carefully balance the need to protect ourselves from large-scale attacks, while protecting the Constitution and remaining an example to all nations that seek the liberties and opportunities Americans live with every day. Serving on the Senate Select Committee on  Intelligence, I am unfortunately aware that there are very real threats against Americans that originate both overseas and in our homeland.  I take my responsibility to strike this balance between liberty and security very seriously, and I sincerely appreciate your legitimate concern about our citizens' freedoms and constitutional rights. 

Agai n, thank you for contacting me. I look forward to continuing our conversation on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/SenatorBlunt ) and Twitter ( www.twitter.com/RoyBlunt ) about the important issues f acing Missouri and the country.  I also encourage you to visit my website ( blunt.senate.gov ) to learn more about where I stand on the issues and sign-up for my e-newsletter .
Sincere regards,

Roy Blunt
United States Senator

SEC. 1031. AFFIRMATION OF AUTHORITY OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES TO DETAIN COVERED PERSONS PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Congress affirms that the authority of the President to use all necessary and appropriate force pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40) includes the authority for the Armed Forces of the United States to detain covered persons (as defined in subsection (b)) pending disposition under the law of war.

(b) COVERED PERSONS.—A covered person under this section is any person as follows:

(2) A person who was a part of or substantially supported al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners, including any person who has committed a belligerent act or has directly such hostilities in aid of such enemy forces.

My Comments:

Like our government? Who is Al Qaeda? CIA? Al-CIAduh!? Anybody can easily falsely accuse someone as supporting Al-Qaeda without proof, (proof - which is not mentioned in the bill and which our government does all the time, that proof is on my website. Obama has already executed this law before it was passed with the order of the U.S. drone killing of American al-Awlaki who was secretly dining at the Pentagon!).

 (4) Transfer to the custody or control of the person’s country of origin, any other foreign country, or any other foreign entity.

3 SEC. 1032. REQUIREMENT FOR MILITARY CUSTODY.

(a) CUSTODY PENDING DISPOSITION UNDER LAW OF WAR.—

(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in paragraph (4), the Armed Forces of the United States shall hold a person described in paragraph (2) who is captured in the course of hostilities authorized by the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107–40) in military custody pending disposition

under the law of war.

(2) COVERED PERSONS.—The requirement in paragraph (1) shall apply to any person whose detention is authorized under section 1031 who is determined—

(A) to be a member of, or part of, al-Qaeda or an associated force that acts in coordination with or pursuant to the direction of al-Qaeda; and

(B) to have participated in the course of  planning or carrying out an attack or attempted attack against the United States or its coalition partners.

(b) APPLICABILITY TO UNITED STATES CITIZENS

AND LAWFUL RESIDENT ALIENS.—

(1) UNITED STATES CITIZENS.—The requirement to detain a person in military custody "under this section" (not section 1031 which DOES include US citizens) does not extend to citizens of the United States.

 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall issue, and submit to Congress, procedures for

implementing this section.

(So I guess we all have to live in fear like Anne Frank in NAZI Germany of being detained whenever we see the flashing lights of the Police pulling us over huh?)

 (D) Procedures providing that the requirement for military custody under subsection does not apply when intelligence, law enforcement, or other government officials of the United States are granted access to an individual who remains in the custody of a third country.

Those who also agree.
http://www.aclu.org/blog/tag/NDAA
http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-12-02/politics/30466471_1_guantanamo-bay-google-news-military-prisons