It covers anyone the president deems an ememy combatant - including US Citizens. Not to be an alarmist here but once upon a time there used to be a bedrock legal principle called habeas corpus. These are dark times.
2006-10-19 01:28:46 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Other - Politics & Government
Fark: of course I have read it. That's why I am alarmed. it says ANYONE the president deems so, is an enemy combatant. That means even you could vanish.
2006-10-19 01:44:50 · update #1
According to the AG, Albert Gonzales (his intitials and his jobs are the same...LMAO) in the Ask The White House pseudo-discussion yesterday, the MCA only applies to non-citizens. Don't forget, however, that the President retains the right to designate anyone, foreign or citizen as an enemy combatant. However, as a US citizen, those procedures that are closed to non-citizens (habeus corpus, trial by jury, etc...) are still in place. Just wait, due to some of our answers here, we may be designated as such in the near future, irregardless of political party affiliation.
2006-10-19 04:06:35 · answer #1 · answered by Damien104 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Are you talking about this?
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h109-6166
Here's an excerpt:
term `unlawful enemy combatant' means--
a person who has engaged in hostilities or who has purposefully and materially supported hostilities against the United States
or its co-belligerents who is not a lawful enemy combatant (including a person who is part of the Taliban, al Qaeda, or associated forces); or a person who, before, on, or after the
date of the enactment of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, has been determined to be an unlawful enemy combatant by a Combatant Status Review Tribunal or another competent tribunal established under the authority of the President or the Secretary of Defense.
I've read the whole thing. Nowhere in there does it say that a regular citizen of the US can be labeled as an UNLAWFUL enemy combatant.
I seriously doubt that I would be arrested. I'm not running around in civilian clothes seeking to kill as many Americans as possible. Considering the fact that I'm a US Army WIFE, that would be pretty difficult.
I doubt even YOU could be arrested for the same thing. Are you associated with Al Qaida or the Taliban? Are you running around in civilian clothes plotting to kill Americans?
I may not agree with you, but I know you're not a criminal. I'm sure if President Bush even knows of you that HE knows you're not a criminal.
YOU have nothing to worry about. Neither do I.
Habeas corpus is ONLY guaranteed to US citizens, and to UNIFORMED combatants. You, I hope, are a US citizen. So am I. You're not a combatant, you're only a dissenter, and as long as you don't threaten the life of the president or vice president, you're still fine.
I WAS worried about the Military Commissions Act until I read it. I think the only reason you have a problem with it is because it says that President Bush (and the Secretary of Defense) can decide a person is a non-uniformed combatant.
BUT the terms in which a person can be deemed an unlawful combatant are very precise.
So, President Bush can't just point at a random person and say that they're an unlawful combatant.
2006-10-19 08:38:30 · answer #2 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
That's right...these are dark times.
You may want to elaborate on what habeas corpus means to these people.
2006-10-19 08:36:43 · answer #3 · answered by ;-) 1 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yup. It's a challenge for people to wake up and demand a change.
2006-10-19 08:37:13 · answer #4 · answered by beast 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋