Obama signed the NDAA – including a provision allowing the indefinite detention of Americans - on New Year's eve.
Obama issued a "signing statement" with the bill, which – at first blush – appears to say he won't indefinitely detain Americans. Specifically, Obama wrote:
My administration will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American citizens … Indeed, I believe that doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a nation.
But a closer reading shows that the signing statement is just smoke and mirrors.
Specifically, it was Obama - not Congress – who originally requested that an exception for American citizens be removed from the bill. As such, his professed reluctance is wholly disingenuous.
Moreover, Obama signed a bill which would allow future presidents to indefinitely detain U.S. citizens, and his signing statement in no way limits their power to run roughshod over our rights.
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In addition, Obama has claimed the power to assassinate American citizens without any trial or charge. Obama's signing statement doesn't even pretend to limit that power.
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