Democracy Arsenal

« CNAS Report Underscores Need for a New Strategy | Main | Previewing Romney’s Foreign Policy Speech »

October 06, 2011

Reid on CT Legislation
Posted by James Lamond

For those who missed it this week, Senator Reid sent a great letter to Carl Levin and John McCain, regarding detainee provisions in the 2012 Defense Authorization Bill. In the letter, Reid says that he will not bring the bill to the floor while it has three controversial provisions in it. He specifically cited the provisions that authorize indefinite detention (section 1031), require military custody for terrorism suspects (1032), and transfer restrictions on current detainees (1033). 

Daphne Eviatar of Human Rights First describes the effects of the bill saying:

this would be the first bill authorizing military detention of suspected insurgents since the McCarthy era, when Congress passed the Internal Security Act to allow the government to indefinitely detain suspected Communists.

If the Committee's bill became law, military detention would actually be required for all suspects who are not U.S. citizens, which could cut the FBI -- our best-trained experts on investigating international terrorism -- out of these critical cases. It would also make it far more difficult to prosecute terrorists later.

Replacing an effective system – the FBI and other law enforcement that have an expertise in counterterrorism – with required military detention makes make little sense. Beyond stretching the military into roles it was neither designed, nor wants, to handle, it is a logistical nightmare. Requiring the military to be police and jailor would mean that military officers would have to arrest and hold terrorism suspects throughout the country. Outside of a handful of cities, which have large bases that might be able to handle this, the infrastructure, facilities, capabilities and training simply do not exist. In a recent letter to Congress a  group of retired generals and admirals warned that the provisions “would transform our armed forces into judge, jury and jailor for foreign terrorism suspects,” distracting from the military’s core mission: “to prosecute wars, not terrorists.”

However, what is most ironic with all of this is the timing. The debate is going public the same week the trial of Underwear Bomber commences. Abdullmutallab was arrested and successfully interrogated by the FBI after he attempted to blow up an airliner over Detroit on Christmas day 2009. He now faces justice in a criminal court, without any of the drama or fanfare that opponents of criminal courts fear.

At a more substantive, less news hooky, level though, the timing is even worse. The Obama administration has made clear that the use of civilian courts is a key component of the overall counterterrorism strategy. John Brennan recently outlined this component of the strategy in remarks at Harvard Law School. He explains some of the more pragmatic benefits: 

For when we uphold the rule of law, governments around the globe are more likely to provide us with intelligence we need to disrupt ongoing plots, they’re more likely to join us in taking swift and decisive action against terrorists, and they’re more likely to turn over suspected terrorists who are plotting to attack us, along with the evidence needed to prosecute them.

When we uphold the rule of law, our counterterrorism tools are more likely to withstand the scrutiny of our courts, our allies, and the American people.  And when we uphold the rule of law it provides a powerful alternative to the twisted worldview offered by al-Qa’ida.  Where terrorists offer injustice, disorder and destruction, the United States and its allies stand for freedom, fairness, equality, hope, and opportunity.

The Obama administration’s has had a pretty successful counterterrorism record - particularly in 2012 - from getting  bin Laden to breaking terrorist finances to actually leveraging a more global response. In addition, the public agrees. Even as the President’s numbers have dipped, Obama always had strong  approval on his handling of terrorism  - even before bin Laden. 

This looks to me to be both bad policy as well as bad politics. 

TrackBack

TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451c04d69e2015435f2557c970c

Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Reid on CT Legislation:

Comments

No one can succeed without any hard work. Karl Max was successful, because he spent more than 30 years writing the book "Communist Manifesto"; Tomas Edison

succeeded, because he had experimented thousands of times to find the best material for lights. Every success calls for hard work. If you want to suc-ceed, work hard

first.zhongchengmaoyi110post

Island of wonderful Britain and Northern Ireland is genuinely a component of UK. united kingdom can be surrounded by Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, English funnel and Irish

Sea. zhongchengmaoyi110post

Excellent Info. Tweeted about it. I?l bookmark this post too.

palermo hollywood apartments
teeth bleaching trays

very happy to read your blog.Thank you for sharing this article.It is great!
Thanks for sharing this nice post.I will keep your article in my idea.

You made some decent points there.. Wow! what an idea ! What a concept ! Beautiful .. Amazing Agreeable A rise in An increase in.

I just like the approach you took with this subject. It isn’t every day that you discover something so concise and enlightening.

When a dog bites a man that is not news, but when a man bites a dog that is news. (Charls A.Dana, American journalist)

I enjoy reading the report, too. It′s easy to understand that a journey like this is the biggest event in ones life.

I agree with your Blog and I will be back to check it more in the future so please keep up your work. I love your content & the way that you write. It looks like you’ve been doing this for a while now, how long have you been blogging for?

In this excerpt, although watch out of ten is one of many watches only the tip of the iceberg, is different ........ Make sure you buy your watch from a well-known dealer to ensure that you are not being ripped off. It helps if they have an address or a store that you can visit, should you have any issues with your purchase. You can often easily check their address using Google Maps street view to see if their shop is where they say it is.

This is a good,common sense article.Very helpful to one who is just finding the resouces about this part.It will certainly help educate me.


Life is merely a sequence of wanting to create up your mind.

Goals create whatever you are steering to be.

You call up for to think in yourself. That is the alternative of success.

Atrue good friend is some one who reaches for the hand andtouchesyour heart.

The worst method to forget some one is for getting sitting centerbesidehim knowing you cant have him.

Never frown,even while you are sad,because youn actually know whoisfalling in adore jointly with your smile.

ust like the approach you took with this subject. It isn’t every day that you discover something so concise and enlightening

Wow, I’m obviously not being creative enough, haha…Great work!

It isn’t every day that you discover something so concise and enlightening

There are various styles of Italian men shoes available in the market, such as dress shoes or leather cheap nike shox r5. A special mention of dark brown leather shoes should be made here - they look great. Furthermore, there are some brands that make brown calf leather shoes and lace-ups that come in a wide range of prices. You will love their materials because they are soft and have a luxurious feel to them due to their side buttons and short zip designs. Such shoes typically cost about $150 they traditionally come in brown, black, and tobacco.As you browse through the various designs, remember that Italian shoes are made of durable materials, so you know you are getting your money's worth. They are still handmade and due to this reason, there's no doubt that they will last for a long time.It is a known fact that air max 95 shoes are favored by so many people around the world. If you want to get the best pairs of nike shox r4 orange at affordable prices, then you should definitely start shopping online. You will find a pair of women's or cheap air max 95 shoes online with ease!The average bride-to-be tries on about dozen dresses before she finds the right one. But that's nothing compared to the number of nike shox r4 pink she slips into and out of before her big day. Why is the right bridal footwear so hard to find? For one thing, the jordan air max shoes must match the dress, the venue, the season and more. In this article, we will review a few basic tips that will hopefully help you avoid heel blisters and find the perfect pair a little sooner.

your opinion is right! I support you! I will let my friends to read!

I support you! I will let my friends to read!

I certainly feel Russia, China, and others should take a firmer stance toward Iran -- though China did recently back out of an important energy infrastructure investment there, in an undernoticed move -- but being rashly confrontational with them isn't going to get their help in confronting Iran.

With moncler jackets are a good way to keep your fashion feeling in 2011 . When you have the fashion Mulberry Bags Sale , you will can't help falling in love with confidence and personality that Mulberry Bags bring to you . As for a world famous brand , moncler bags is keep moving in the fashion world , continues to launch more and more fashion moncler down jackets to meet more people's fashion feel. Many people look for a certain option with Mulberry Alexa Bags , which are colors, owning a black Mulberry Alexa Bag increase the sense of versatility, I think you will like the jackets and coats

Distrust can be contagious. But, so can trust.

I like your article so that I read all of your articles in a day.Please continue and keep on writing excellent posts.

dear friends,
May I say, you are doing a great job here. Well done.
I know you are having fun!
I might have a few ideas...
I just liked your website..your articles are so cool and really good…awsem…
Actually, i also like
sports jersey
.my pleasure if you like it, and we can talk about it, and share the news and thoughts.
May God Bless you .Thank you..

it is a procedure very important before you remove aluminum from bauxite mine that is crushing and Bauxite mining equipment .

As for Women and jordan high heels, this is the inseparable relations, Tom Ford master evidence: "don't wear the high-heeled shoes woman how talk up sexy?" High heels and sex appeal is relevant? The answer is: "of course!"

Thanks for posting! I really enjoyed the report. I’ve already bookmark this article.

Hello!I am glad to here, Good Site! Thanks you!

Den Spruce Goose er navnet vanligvis gitt til den amerikanske Hughes H-4 Hercules, et fly designet og bygd av Hughes Aircraft selskapet som var den største Canada Goose Norge
flygende båten, og en av de største flyet som noensinne er bygget. Den Spruce Goose er verdens største fly av
vingespenn og er også canada goose Jakker

If you have been issued with a winding up petition for your company because the company owes money. You can pay the money owed before the court date and get the case droped or fight it if you believe it to be worth defending.

The nomination of the winner depends on the capability and spirit of the personality to finish the race.I like the post very much as it contain informative in knowledge.I like pics of Chelsea shares of the beauty of running in Madison, Wisconsin.I want to congratulate the winner for the nomination race.I want to know suggestion from others.

of the bill saying:

this would be the first bill authorizing military detention of suspected insurgents since the McCarthy era, when Congress passed the Internal Security Act to allow the government to indefinitely detain suspected Communists.

If the Committee's bill became law, military detention would actually


So beautiful posts,all I like,hope to be better then,and enjoy yourself,good luck in your life.Thanks for your ideas to something.

Obama, since his first day in office - has been actively trying to restore US engagement and influence in Asia, especially in Southeast Asia


Great job! Keep working! useful post, thank you

dealer to ensure that you are not being ripped off. It helps if they have an address or a store that you can visit, should you have any issues with your purchase. You can often easily check their address using Google Maps street view to see if their shop is where they say it is.

【my-lady.jp】のアグ ブーツはキッズも、レディースも、メンズもよくぴったり新作はいよい よ入荷中...UGG ムートンブーツ,UGG ブーツは通販激安ing…phoenixzon.com

rakanet.comモンクレール 新作 2011 登場,当サイトMonclers.jpが激安な価格で男女共に人気のジャケットなどを販売しておりますジャケット通販激安,それに品質もよい、ご来店をお待ちしております

モンクレール通販の専門店モンクレール販売店です。品質が完璧、値段が激安、いろんなサイズが揃って、最も多様な選択空間を提供いたしており、お客様に気楽なショッピングを享受させるだけでなく、より美しく暖かい冬を過ごせます。Monclermaya.jp

楽しめる!Monclerxx.comは最新UGG、クリスチャンルブタン、モンクレール等を通販専門サイトです.豊富な品揃え格安価格で販売しています.

ugg Australia2011最新作、最高品質、激安のUGGブーツ販売店舗です。50% 割り引きしました。主なレディースuggクラシックアグブーツを販売しています。UGGブーツは冬の必要荷物、私たちはUGG激安、人気なUGGアグブーツを提供するugg正規品店舗。Jpgoodsugg.com

Moncler/モンクレールダウン新作を激安通販中です。モンクレール ダウン等今年秋冬日本未発売の商品が多数販売中.全国送料無料!Monclercit.com

モンクレール 新作 2011 登場,当サイトMonclerss.netが激安な価格で男女共に人気のジャケットなどを販売しておりますジャケット通販激安,それに品質もよい、ご来店をお待ちしております

Moncler専門店モンクレール販売店です。moncler(モンクレール)品質が 完璧、値段が激安で提供いたします、より美しく暖かい冬を過ごせます。Moncler-s.com

ugg(アグ)ブーツ専門店UGGブーツ販売店です。ugg、UGGブーツ、アグブーツ品質が 完璧、値段が激安で提供いたします、より美しく暖かい冬を過ごせます。Shineugg.com

Merveilleux billet, merci beaucoup de nous le faire partager. Malgré cela, possédez-vous un flux RSS disponible ? Pourriez-vous me le faire parvenir par mail svp ? Merci beaucoup par avance ;)

euro million euromillions résultats loto lotomillions loto gratuit résultat euro millions

--
camilla from euromillion

Wonderful journey and experience!

This is a good,common sense article...

Post a comment

Comments are moderated, and will not appear on this weblog until the author has approved them.

This weblog only allows comments from registered users. To comment, please Sign In.

Emeritus Contributors
Subscribe
Sign-up to receive a weekly digest of the latest posts from Democracy Arsenal.
Email: 
Powered by TypePad

Disclaimer

The opinions voiced on Democracy Arsenal are those of the individual authors and do not represent the views of any other organization or institution with which any author may be affiliated.
Read Terms of Use