The Act authorizes the permanent detention and torture (as defined by the Geneva Conventions) of anyone - including American citizens - based solely on the decision of the President.
Amnesty International said that the Act "contravenes human rights principles. An editorial in The New York Times described the Act as "a tyrannical law that will be ranked with the low points in American democracy, our generation’s version of the Alien and Sedition Acts.
The president can now, with the approval of Congress, indefinitely hold people without charge, take away protections against horrific abuse, put people on trial based on hearsay evidence, authorize trials that can sentence people to death based on testimony literally beaten out of witnesses, and slam shut the courthouse door for habeas petitions.
We must stop using terrorism and national security to push every bill and agenda forward. Bush used it, and hurried to the Iraq war and look at the state it's in now. Think long term please
2006-10-17 14:15:12 · 9 answers · asked by Answers Nickname 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
I got flack for the "congress approval in a comment, but please note the "competent tribunal" used in the definition. I'm not certain it requires congressional approval. Anyone know for certain?
An “unlawful enemy combatant” can be any person – not excluding American citizens - determined to be one by a “competent tribunal” established by the President or the Secretary of Defense [Sec.948a(1)(ii)]. What comprises a competent tribunal – or by what criteria they would make such a determination - is not defined.
2006-10-17 14:26:23 · update #1
I can feel that hate coming from some of you. Especially with the France comments. They are people too. I think it's ignorant to hate an entire group of people for no specific reason. Disliking individuals is fair (if you have a rational reason), otherwise you're just being racist.
My point is this is not specifically geared towards terrorists. It could be any American citizen just because Bush wants to. It's your freedom too. Youl should want to protect it.
2006-10-17 14:32:18 · update #2
yes,, he has signed himself a law to make his dictatorship a slam dunk for Supreme Ruler of the USA,, pending Justice Kennedy's approval
2006-10-17 14:20:20 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
The with approval of congress part is meaningless Joe 6 pack, I mean they already approved torture, why would they suddenly get a conscience? President Bush can say, we have strong evidence this person support Al Qaeda, but we can't show you the evidence it's classified. What is Congress going to do, not approve it?
People who support this bill are completely ignorant of just how fast they lost any kind of rights.
2006-10-17 14:26:43 · answer #2 · answered by Kevin 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They say what's politically efficient. They almost had me buying into their bs. Almost. Pelosi put a stop to all that in 2006 after they won majorities in both houses. It's not all bad though; every once in a while the Supreme Court hears a case connected to the Patriot Acts or MCA 06 and shoot it down for the garbage it is.
2016-05-21 22:14:18 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I mentioned this several times in my comments and it was totally ignored. What people seem not to realize is this: this is not only terrorists, it also applies to the ordinary citizen. I sat down and cried when I had heard he had signed this order. Talk about having a dictator for president.
2006-10-17 14:32:04 · answer #4 · answered by firewomen 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HMMMMM>>>congress signed without reading the patriot act
Prez. Bush has bypassed congress before
just another example of the crusade wars being repeated-how long is it before just being a "nonchristian" is a terrorist act
2006-10-17 14:25:10 · answer #5 · answered by rwl_is_taken 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just like the word virtually...
You just nailed your own casket. The President can now, "WITH THE APPROVAL OF CONGRESS"
You think 500 people are going to agree with a President detaining an American citizen without solid proof? I doubt it very much.
Your an America hater and your a Bush hater. Don't let the door hit you on your way out. The country of france will welcome you with open arms.... Go there.... NOW.
2006-10-17 14:20:28 · answer #6 · answered by noobienoob2000 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Ummmmmmm....yea.....ok....You watch too many movies.
For one thing Putting panties on someone head is not torture. The Detainees are treated with more respect than our own prisoners in state and federal prisons.
They are not ablidged to habeus....under the geneva convention that everyone wants us to follow soooo badly...lets the enemy be held until the end of any armed conflict...or are the libs only interested in only the parts they like?
2006-10-17 14:27:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
I agree. You need to head toward France. They love people like you. Has anybody ever thought of what the enemy does to our soldiers when captured? Wake up.
2006-10-17 14:25:19 · answer #8 · answered by hysteria75 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To prevent any more attacks by
the ISLAMO-FASCIST TERRORIST PIGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2006-10-17 14:18:52 · answer #9 · answered by Vagabond5879 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋