Topic: Indefinite Detention

An analysis of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) focuses on Section 1021, which allegedly allows for the indefinite detention of U.S. citizens without trial. The Obama administration's aggressive legal fight to overturn Judge Forrest's injunction suggests the law may already be in use against dual nationals.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid used the legal term "vitiate" to quietly strip an amendment from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that would have protected citizens from indefinite detention. The hosts explain that "vitiate" serves as a code word for destroying the legal validity of a provision, allowing controversial measures to be removed without public outcry.

Cincinnati journalist Ben Swann interviewed President Obama, questioning him on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and the indefinite detention of US citizens. Obama claimed he signed the bill to ensure military funding despite personal constitutional concerns, asserting that his administration would not use those powers against Americans.

Federal Judge Katherine Forrest issued a ruling declaring Section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) unconstitutional. Journalist Chris Hedges, who sued the government over the provision, explains how the ruling temporarily halts the military's power to indefinitely detain U.S. citizens without due process.

The 2013 NDAA codifies the authority of the Secretary of Defense to conduct clandestine military operations in cyberspace. Furthermore, the bill recodifies indefinite detention policies for individuals associated with Al-Qaeda or the Taliban. The legislation cites the 2004 Supreme Court case Hamdi v. Rumsfeld to justify the detention of US citizens captured in conflict zones without traditional due process.

President Obama issued a directive regarding the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that allows the Attorney General to waive certain protections for "covered persons." Attorney General Eric Holder testified before Congress, defending his record and blaming the Bush administration for the "Fast and Furious" gun-walking scandal. Holder claimed he stopped the program as soon as he became aware of its flawed nature.

While the media focuses on SOPA, Ron Paul introduces legislation to repeal Section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This controversial section allows for the indefinite detention of American citizens without trial. Paul warns that the law effectively turns the U.S. military into a domestic police force, a point the hosts feel is being ignored by the public.

The discussion covers the controversial Sections 1031 and 1032 of the NDAA, which affirm the president's authority to detain "covered persons" under the law of war. While the bill claims the requirement for military custody does not extend to U.S. citizens, the hosts argue that the definition of an "unprivileged enemy belligerent" remains dangerously vague. The legislation effectively ensures that Guantanamo Bay will remain open, contradicting previous campaign promises by President Obama.

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) moves toward the President's desk, including the 1033 program for militarizing local police. Senator Carl Levin reveals that the Obama administration specifically requested the removal of language that would have exempted U.S. citizens from indefinite detention provisions. The hosts express shock that the administration actively sought the power to detain citizens as "supporters of Al-Qaeda."

President Barack Obama signed an executive order on March 7, 2011, establishing a periodic review process for detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. The order effectively formalizes indefinite detention without trial, contradicting 2008 campaign promises to close the facility within one year. A typo in the original White House posting of the order, using the word "pursuant" incorrectly, is noted.