Does the Military Commisions Act target US citizens?

Answer 1

Only if they are connected to any of the terrorist organizations. Implicitly or explicitly.

Answer 2

I don't think that the Military Commissions Act "targets US citizens", per se.

It does define "enemy combatants" in such a vague way as to allow US citizens to be declared "enemy combatants" according to whatever criteria the President decides are okay.

Consider this: the President has said, on national television, that simply talking about such things as the secret, warrantless wiretapping of US citizens was "helping the terrorists". The Military Commissions Act is written so vaguely that you could easily interpret it to mean that the President could declare that anyone who talks about such things as "enemy combatants", because they were "helping the terrorists". Far-fetched? Maybe. Maybe not.

The Military Commissions Act definitely strips habeus corpus from "alien enemy combatants". Many people say that, since this provision doesn't affect citizens, there's no cause for alarm. However, the Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that the Constitution covers aliens. And the Constitution clearly states that the Government cannot strip anyone of habeus corpus unless we're in the middle of a rebellion or an invasion.

If the Constitution has such clear wording in it, and if the Military Commissions Act defies that wording, then the Military Commissions Act is unConstitutional. I can see that, just by looking, and I'm no judge or lawyer. So, why would the Congress pass an unConstitutional piece of legislation? Why would the President sign it?

The Military Commissions Act seeks to chip away at the provisions of the US Constitution. It seeks to diminish the Constitution's reach. Therefore, it is an attack upon the Constitution. Only enemies make attacks.

By passing the Military Commissions Act to the President, a majority of the members of the US Congress have shown themselves to be enemies of the Constitution. By signing the Act, the President has shown himself to be one, too.

When enemies of the Constitution are running the Government, US citizens are in danger. So, although US citizens may not be the "target" of the Military Commissions Act, US citizens and the rights that we claim for ourselves may well be destroyed as "collateral damage".

Answer 3

According to AG Gonsalez on "Ask the White House" NO. Funny though, I wouldn't hold my breath is a US citizen is caught in Afghan or Iraq fighting against us. Who cares....all this mess could have been avoided had the USG actually worked to improve our security and safety. Instead, throw money at the problem...build more corrupt offices and invade Iraq was my governments solution to terrorism. At least they outlawed maiming, rape and murder.....read the MCA...it actually states that "cutting a suspect" is ok, as long as no body parts are removed (paraphrasing, of course). I bet they put lemon or salt in those wounds too....very unimaginative.

Answer 4

It doesn't specifically target them. It makes anyone and everyone a potential target who can be detained without charges, recourse to counsel, or the ability to legally invoke the Geneva Conventions, then tried and imprisoned or executed, solely at the discretion of the president. US citizens are not exempt.

Answer 5

Anyone can be a target at the sole discretion of the President.

Answer 6

It can, if they are enemy combatants, but they still would get regular trials and habeus corpus rights. (So it was not much different then prior to the law, when they still would have been arrested.) If you are an alien living in the US or not, you are given a military tribunal and lose the right to habeus corpus.

Answer 7

no