Indefinite detention ban loses traction - still the law

Senator Diane Feinstein, D-CA, former Mayor of San Francisco

WASHINGTON -- Congress stripped a provision Tuesday from a defense bill that aimed to shield Americans from the possibility of being imprisoned indefinitely without trial by the military. The provision was replaced with a passage that appears to give citizens little protection from indefinite detention.

The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013 was added by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), but there was no similar language in the version of the bill that passed the House, and it was dumped from the final bill released Tuesday after a conference committee from both chambers worked out a unified measure.

Sinclair Lewis, newsman, novelist, Grub Street journalist

It declared that "An authorization to use military force, a declaration of war, or any similar authority shall not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States apprehended in the United States, unless an Act of Congress expressly authorizes such detention." - stolen fair and square from "The Huffington Post"

Click here for a previous report on the polarization of America on core issues - Democrat v. Republican

This space is dedicated to the memory of Mr. Sinclair Lewis of Sauke Center, MN, author of Arrowsmith, Elmer Gantry, Babbit, and the more obscure, lesser known novel depicting a fascist takeover of America, It Can't Happen Here. Said Mr. Lewis, "When fascism comes to America, it will be carrying a cross, wrapped in the American flag."