Buck Sexton
The Blaze
12/12/2011
In a radio segment Monday morning, Glenn Beck and Congressman Allen West had a lively discussion– and voiced some strong points of disagreement– on the current language of the National Defense Authorization Act, also referred to as the “Indefinite Detention Bill.”
Glenn kicked off the discussion by putting all cards on the table — namely that he holds Congressman West in high regard both personally and professionally, but has a point of real disagreement with him on this policy issue. And he didn’t mince words when discussing his concerns.
Glenn is not alone. Senator Mike Lee voted against it, and Senator Rand Paul has been the most vocal critic of the bill under the interpretation that it could indefinitely imprison a U.S. citizen captured on U.S. soil without trial.
Rep. West tried to set some context for the discussion by saying that certain language could be ironed out in conferencing the House and Senate Bill before it’s presented to the President. But he did not disagree with the fundamental concerns of those who oppose the NDAA in its current form.
If the NDAA passes as written, U.S. Citizens suspected of terrorism and caught on U.S. soil could forfeit their rights to due process and the presumption of innocence underlying the Constitution.
In fact, the bill is so controversial that Obama and his entire senior national security team strongly oppose it on the grounds that it would limit their flexibility…
…West stated that he was “not talking about going after Branch Davidians” and stated “I’m not saying we should have military start patrolling our streets and shooting people,” but Glenn countered that that’s where the NDAA could lead us…
The entire article, with video of the exchange, is at The Blaze.
Related: U.S. House passes $662 billion defense bill
The House passed a massive $662 billion defense bill Wednesday night after last-minute changes placated the White House and ensured President Obama’s ability to prosecute terrorist suspects in the civilian justice system.
The vote was 283-136 and reflected the strong support for annual legislation that authorizes money for the men and women of the military as well as weapons systems and the millions of jobs they generate in lawmakers’ districts…
…Unnerving many conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats, the legislation also would deny suspected terrorists, even U.S. citizens seized within the nation’s borders, the right to trial and subject them to indefinite detention. House Republican leaders had to tamp down a small revolt among some rank-and-file who sought to delay a vote on the bill.
Some of the Republicans were concerned that the “president would use the military to round up American citizens,” said Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., a member of the Armed Services panel…
