While many Americans have become enthralled over the current GOP race, very few realize that our very freedoms have recently been seriously diminished and marginalized. Hopefully, everyone celebrated this past New Year with sincere freedom of expression because as of December 31st, we must all watch what we say.
That’s right, our freedoms of expression and speech are no more.
President Obama just signed the controversial 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. This means, based on Title X, Subtitle D, sub-sections 1021 and 1022, which deal with detention of persons the government suspects of involvement in terrorism, the Government now has full authorization to indefinitely detain citizens who speak out against this or any other administration based on the new law.
Considering the United States has about a half dozen definitions for the word terrorism, one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist, which is why many fear the law will be used to aggressively encroach upon personal freedoms.
What ever happened to Habeas Corpus? According to the U.S. Constitution, “The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require it.”
Do the elected believe the United States is about to be invaded? Do they fear a rebellion is about to come?
Obviously, very few of us will ever know the truth behind President Obama’s signing of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act. What we do know is that our civil liberties have just become one step closer to extinction.
Furthermore, in coming to a public understanding of global issues, we have now been placed under a greater national security threat.
With the Middle East crumbling, a worldwide economic nightmare, Iran constantly threatening the world, and an insurgency taking place on the southern border, our national might has been dramatically deflated.
Numerous current and former military officers are up in arms over this administration’s poor policies, weak leadership, and indoctrination of political correctness. Retired Army Lt. General Boykin, one of America’s most decorated Special Forces Commanders, constantly protests this administration due to fears of growing Marxism within. With the signing of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, General Boykin may actually know what he speaks of.
What could happen when individuals like General Boykin get the ear of the American people? With the strain of constant deployments abroad, surely he will have increased followers who previously or currently served. Many veterans are fed up with the politics taking place in today’s wars. Rules of engagement hinder our combat success. Winning hearts and minds seems worthless. Nation building appears to be a waste.
Simply put, veterans are tired of the Obama administration’s games.
I do not have the answers to all of what’s taking place in America today. I do not necessarily agree nor do I necessarily disagree with true leaders like General Boykin and his counterparts.
What I do completely disagree with is the fact that one of my most sacred civil liberties is now in jeopardy due to President Obama’s signing of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.
I may actually be construed as a terrorist under this administration based on this writing, and due to my obligations protecting the livelihood of my loved ones, it’s best I refrain from additionally offering all of my true feelings about this unparalleled act against the basic premise for which our Founding Fathers so earnestly fought.
Suffice it to say, they fought to create a free and noble United States and within it a place where its citizens knew they could have a clear understanding of charges against them, a voice and legal representation before impartial tribunals of law, not simply be locked away as the British had done to them, on the whims of a King.
Kerry Patton, a combat service disabled veteran, is a senior analyst for WIKISTRAT. He has worked in South America, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, focusing on intelligence and security and interviewing current and former terrorists, including members of the Taliban. He is the author of Sociocultural Intelligence: The New Discipline of Intelligence Studies and the children’s book American Patriotism. You can follow him on Facebook.
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