At the start of the first hearing on a lawsuit challenging the Homeland Battlefield Act, a federal judge appeared to be “extremely skeptical” that those pursuing the challenge had grounds to sue the US government. However, by the end of the hearing, the judge acknowledged plaintiffs had made some strong arguments on why there was reason to be concerned about the Act, which passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) on New Year’s Eve last year.
Adam Klasfeld of Courthouse News, one of the few media organizations that actually covered the hearing yesterday, reported that Judge Katherine B. Forrest cited the lack of definition of terms such as “substantial support” or “associated forces,” which appear in the law. Without clearly knowing what “substantial support” for terrorism or “associated forces” of terrorist groups could be, Forrest asked, “How does the common citizen know?”
The government lawyers contended that the Homeland Battlefield Law “affirms” the Authorization to Use Military Force passed under President George W. Bush. But, according to Klasfeld, Forrest asked why language had changed. “Congress writes legislation for a reason, right?” There must be a purpose for the change.
There are seven plaintiffs trying to sue right now. Dubbed the “Freedom Seven” by their attorneys, the plaintiffs include: Chris Hedges, a journalist; Daniel Ellsberg, who is known for releasing the Pentagon Papers; Noam Chomsky, a well-known writer; Icelandic MP Birgitta Jonsdottir; Tangerine Bolen, founder of RevolutionTruth.org; Kai Wargalla, deputy director of Revolution Truth and founder of Occupy London; and Alexa O’Brien, journalist and founder of US Day of Rage.
Paul Harris of The Guardian also covered the hearing. His report indicates that the government did not block Icelandic MP Birgitta Jonsdottir’s testimony from being entered into the record.
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More “change we can believe in” from the imposter in the White House and his “roady” holder?
We the People Demand a Full Scale Investigation into the Eligibility Requirements of President Obama to be President and to run again for a second term. please go to the link and sign the petition then ask everyone you know to do the same , http://www.petition2congress. com
lets help obama ,biden and the house and senate democrats find new jobs ..preferably making little rocks out of big rocks !!!!
This goes farther and deeper than anyone can possibly imagine. Keep up with what Joe Arpaio is doing. My understanding is those that have persued this have been threatened with with everything including physical harm. There’s some big powers behind all of this stuff.
Dark Archer,
I resemble that remark! I happen to make big rocks into little rocks!!! In the process, they are shaped and polished. I don’t need them competing with me. I already have slave labor in China as competitors.
I would think that anyone seriously criticizing the administration would be put on a “hit list”. As the election in November approaches, credible targets will be selected, or members of their family threatened – just like what has happened to those who considered reporting about birther issues as anything but lunacy.
However, they should remember two can play that game.
The threats and intimidation come from many sources. I have been verbally abused because I have a Ron Paul sticker on my brief case. These are not government employees that I am aware of. We meet at bus stops, and in grocery store lines – ordinary places where ordinary people meet. I hand out politically oriented material, am given dirty looks as the flier is torn into bits and tossed on the ground. And then I am blamed for the litter. These actions come from all ethnicities. I have spent many hours “doing my thing”. This is not a one time occurrence, though it certainly doesn’t happen often, it does happen.
Peace, Robert Walker