Our enemy is TERRORISTS in whatever form they take including U.S. citizens. However . . . . .

[PHILIP SCHNEIDER]

ALL U.S. citizens have a constitutional right to a trial by their peers NOT a military tribunal.

The issue which would change that right would be if the citizen terrorist were caught OUTSIDE the U.S. borders THEN the terrorist should be detained and tried via a military tribunal.

So far, the Obama administration has decided to murder U.S. citizens who have been accused of terrorism while outside of U.S. borders.

Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. John McCain Spar Over Giving the Government...

Posted on 29 November 2011 by Ben Peterson in The Lone Republic

 

The battle continues over a new amendment in this years National Defense Authorization Bill. The addition to the bill opens up the possibility for anyone in the US, including Americans, to be detained by the military indefinitely and without trail if it is determined that they are terrorists. Sen. Mark Udall has already voiced his opposition and Sen. Rand Paul has added his voice into the debate today. He and a cosponsor of the bill Sen. John McCain debated the new powers in the bill on the floor of the Senate today.

Via The Hill:

Republican Sens. Rand Paul (Ky.) and John McCain (Ariz.) battled on the Senate floor Tuesday over a proposed amendment to the pending defense authorization bill that could allow American citizens who are suspected of terrorism to be denied a civilian trial.

Paul argued the amendment, which is cosponsored by McCain, “puts every single American citizen at risk” and suggested that if the amendment passes, “the terrorists have won.”

“Should we err today and remove some of the most important checks on state power in the name of fighting terrorism, well then the terrorists have won,” Paul argued, “[D]etaining American citizens without a court trial is not American.

McCain defended the new powers he would grant the military saying that “If the senator from Kentucky wants to have a situation prevail where people who are released go back in to the fight to kill Americans, he is entitled to his opinion”. Thats a great way to demonize an opposing opinion without even addressing the issue. This issue being the flagrant violations of the Constitution that could and most likely would happen under a law like this.

McCain continued his evasive attack on Rand Paul by claiming that by Rand Paul’s logic he would release all the detainees at Guantánamo Bay. Rand Paul reiterated his point that it was the detention of Americans that he was concerned about saying “I don’t think it necessarily follows I am arguing of the release of prisoners… I am simply arguing that particularly American citizens should not be sent to a foreign prison without due process”.

McCain finished his defense by saying:

“An individual, no matter who they are, if they pose a threat to the security of the United States of America, should not be allowed to continue that threat… We need to take every stop necessary to prevent that from happening, that’s for the safety and security of the men and women who are out there risking their lives … in our armed services.”

We all should be throughly disappointed in Sen. McCain. He would strip the greatest protection we have against the government on our freedom. The right to due process is not a suggestion. It is not a perk. It is a guarantee meant to stand the test of time. It is meant to stop the government from violating our freedoms as they pursue those that have broken the law. What’s the use of all our rights if we are willing to suspend them when we are scared. McCain is scared and that has made him weak. He no longer has the courage to protect the very document and rights that he swore to protect both as Naval Officer and a Congressman. McCain is calling for martial law.

The bill, Sec. 1032, does say that “the requirement to detain a person in military custody under this section does not extend to citizens of the United States”, but I am not convinced that that wording would prevent a US citizen from being held by the military. It only states that it is not required and not that it is not allowed.

When Sen. Rand Paul asked Sen. McCain point blank if US citizens could be detained by the military McCain did not say no:

[Skip]

Time for this person (McCain) to leave and return to Az and rest under the sun and  cook up these ideas so no sane person has to listen to him except the snakes and other creatures and a few llegals.

[Teresa Smith]

Oh Katy, after MCcain was for closing all natural health food stores, the hair on my head went up. I do not trust this man, and held my nose voting for him in 08. He is a Rhino Progressive if I ever saw one. Im sorry, Im also for water boarding too and he is not. Our men can get decapitated and strug up but he thinks water boarding is bad. Sorry, they live they dont die and I do think they get the info. If not they go back and do it again, I think torture is ok, Im sorry and McCain welllllll I have no use for the Progressive. As a matter of fact IMHO, I think he threw the race for President on purpose I think it was planned. How dare they make any more laws against Americans who support them and write their check and they get rich on us, with what amounts to insider trading. Martha Stewart....speak up!

[Katy]

I don't trust McCain, with anything.    As far as I am concerned  , he is right there with Jane Fonda.!