President Obama exempts US citizens from indefinite detainment
- then On the last day of 2011, President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act which, amongst other things, allowed for the indefinite detention of US citizens suspected of terrorism.
- now Obama signed a policy directive today that exempts US citizens from that provision in the bill (Section 1022, if you’re keeping track). Here’s the fact sheet released by the White House. source
» Some nuance: Although the language in the bill as signed did permit for US citizens to be indefinitely detained, it did not mandate this. Obama actually said at the time that he wouldn’t implement the law such that US citizens would face this possibility, so his signing today of this directive is in line with what he’d pledged.
Thank. God.
HONOLULU — Two days before the deadline, President Obama signed a defense spending bill into law - while admitting he has “serious reservations with certain provisions” related to how suspected terrorists are held and questioned.
In a written statement, Mr. Obama makes clear he objects to sections in the National Defense Authorization Act that “regulate the detention, interrogation and prosecution of suspected terrorists.”
Despite his objections, Mr. Obama says he signed the measure…
