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Security or Freedom? By: Neil Schneeberg Grade: 10

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 is a bill that will renew military funding, but Senators Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) have added controversial provisions in the bill that some say allows the military to indefinitely detain anyone suspected of being a terrorist without a trial, including American citizens. The provision claims that it "wouldn't apply to American citizens," but Lindsey Graham, a supporter of the bill says it will "basically say in law for the first time that the homeland is part of the battlefield." Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) says the bill is "carefully crafted to mislead the public." Some supporters of the bill admit that it will lock up anyone suspected of being a terrorist whether they are an "American citizen or not." Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) sponsored an amendment to the bill that would remove the controversial provisions, but failed to pass in a Senate vote. Senator Udall warns; "The provisions would require the military to dedicate a significant number of personnel to capturing and holding terrorism suspects — in some cases indefinitely — even those apprehended on U.S. soil. And they authorize the military to do so regardless of an accused terrorist's citizenship, even if he or she is an American captured in a U.S. city" Representative Amash calls the bill "one of the most anti-liberty pieces of legislation of our lifetime." The bill has been supported and criticized by both Democrats and Republicans. The American Civil Liberties Union strongly opposes the bill. Their criticisms include that it; "Mandate[s] military detention of some civilians who would otherwise be outside of military control, including civilians picked up within the United States itself; and [t]ransfer[s] to the Department of Defense core prosecutorial, investigative, law enforcement, penal, and custodial authority and responsibility now held by the Department of Justice." Senator Graham in defense of the bill, says; "We firmly believe the war is coming back home, so...if you [are planning attack on America and] make it to America, all of a sudden you get Miranda rights and you go to federal court. That's an absurd result; never been known in war before." The bill is also opposed by the Pentagon and various current and former gov. officials. The White House originally threatened a veto but has since rescinded it's decision.