Patriot or Threat to National Security – 1st Victim of the NDAA 2012

by Bobby Casey, Managing Director

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2012 was signed into US law by the Obamessiah on December 31, 2011 – right about the time you were popping corks on champagne bottles celebrating the new year.

During your evening celebration while rejoicing on the successes of the previous year and discussing your 2012 New Year’s resolutions, the NDAA authorized $662B in funding for the defense of the US and its interests abroad.

I won’t go into all the details about all the stupidity in the NDAA and how it is yet another law created to destroy the Constitution and enslave you to the state.  No, we are going to focus on one issue at hand – Title X, Subtitle D, Sec 1012.

Subtitle D – Counterterrorism

Sec. 1021.  AFFIRMATION OF AUTHORITY OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES TO DETAIN COVERED PERSONS PURSUANT TO THE AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF MILITARY FORCE.

(a) In General- Congress affirms that the authority of the President to use all necessary and appropriate force pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force (Public Law 107-40; 50 U.S.C. 1541 note) includes the authority for the Armed Forces of the United States to detain covered persons (as defined in subsection (b)) pending disposition under the law of war.

(b) Covered Persons- A covered person under this section is any person as follows:

(1) A person who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored those responsible for those attacks.

(2) A person who was a part of or substantially supported al-Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the United States or its coalition partners, including any person who has committed a belligerent act or has directly supported such hostilities in aid of such enemy forces.

Take special note of (b) Covered Persons – (1) …including any person who has committed a belligerent act…

According to the Oxford Dictionary, the definition of belligerent is; hostile and aggressive.

The reason I bring this up is twofold:

1. The interpretation of ‘belligerent’ is quite vague.  Who gets to determine what is hostile or not?
2. It looks like Brandon Raub just fell into the category of ‘belligerent’.

“Who is Brandon Raub”, you ask?

Brandon is a former Marine who served tours of duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  On Thursday,  August 16^th, the police and FBI agents arrived at his home wanting to discuss his recent Facebook posts.  No search warrant or arrest warrant was produced and Brandon agreed to speak with them.

With no explanation, no charges against him, and no Miranda rights, Brandon was handcuffed in front of his family and transported to police headquarters – then later to John Randolph Medical Center, where he was held against his will.

Family members and neighbors watched in horror and a few of them recorded video and posted it on Youtube (search Brandon Raub).

On August 20, in a hearing before Justice Stokes, government officials noted Brandon’s Facebook posts were the sole reason of concern and his incarceration.  Ignoring the fact that their comments were taken out of context, Stokes sentenced Brandon to up to 30 days of confinement in the psych ward and signed a court order for involuntary admission to Veterans Hospital in Salem – 3 hours away from his family.

Take a look at the full text of Brandon’s Facebook post (read the full text here) and tell me what you think?  Admittedly, some of his ideas may seem far-fetched, but regardless, he was only expressing his first amendment right to free speech.  He made no direct threats.

You may disagree with his thoughts, but do you really want to live in a world where freedom of expression gets you handcuffed in front of your family and neighbors, then hauled off to a psych ward indefinitely against your will?

How many of you share similar thoughts?

Have you ever posted a rant on Facebook or Twitter about your loss of freedom, stupid tax policy, destruction of privacy, parasitic politicians spending money like there’s no tomorrow and forcing future generations to pay for their current agendas?

Have you ever questioned military spending, the need for nearly 200 military bases worldwide, or why we have been perpetually at war for decades?

Maybe you’re next to get indefinitely detained in a psych ward against your will.  Think it won’t happen, just ask Brandon Raub.

From this recent sage with Brandon Raub, I can clearly see 2 takeaways:

1. Clearly you are being spied on.  Your Facebook and Twitter posts as well as your phone calls and emails are under constant surveillance.
2. The United States has taken a giant step backwards towards a full-on police-state.  You are no longer safe in your home country unless you are an obedient servant.

This makes my blood boil.  I am angry as hell.  I hope you too are angry.

But are you angry enough to do something about it?  Do you have the guts to forward this article to your friends and family members to help them open their eyes to reality?

Until next time, live well.