Earlier today I left messages for Senators Menendez and Lautenberg of NJ. I have serious concerns about the National Defense Authorization Act.
1. There is a provision that gives the President unlimited power to order the military to pick up and imprison without charge or trial civilians anywhere in the world. This means anyone of us too. I asked them to support Senator Udall’s amendment to strike these provisions.
2. I asked them to oppose an amendment being put forth by Senator Ayottee that will allow harsh and aggressive interrogation tactics, the kind I would not want any of our soldiers to face. We can’t expect our troops not to be tortured if we torture, not to mention that it is wrong and tramples on our commitment to human rights.
3. I hope they support an amendment from Senator Shaheen that will allow women who have experienced rape or incest to receive full coverage from their insurance for abortions. Right now they would have to pay for it themselves. That is crazy.
Call your Senator. Follow this link to find their contact info.
The Act is up for debate and vote today or tomorrow.
Here is a link that talks about the indefinite detention aspect of the act.
http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/senators-demand-military-lock-american-citizens-battlefield-they-define-being
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About Michael T. McPhearson
Michael T. McPhearson, a native of Fayetteville North Carolina was a field artillery officer in the 24th Mechanized Infantry Division during Desert Shield /Desert Storm, also known as Gulf War I. Michael joined the Army Reserve 1981 as an enlisted soldier at the age of 17 and attended basic training the summer between his junior and senior high school years. He is a ROTC graduate of Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina. His military career includes 6 years of reserve service and 5 years active duty service. He separated from active duty in 1992 as a Captain.
Now living in Newark, New Jersey, Michael is currently the Co-convener of United for Peace and Justice and former Executive Director of Veterans For Peace.
His volunteer social and economic justice activist work includes membership in Veterans For Peace, the Newark based People's Organization for Progress, Military Families Speak Out, former coordinating committee member for the Bring Them Home Now campaign against the U.S. occupation of Iraq and Secretary of the Saint Louis Branch of the NAACP. Michael is the publisher of the McPhearsonreport.com.
Michael's son joined the Army in January 2004 and served one tour in Iraq. He separated from the military in 2007.
In December of 2003 Michael returned to Iraq as part of a peace delegation to examine the state of the occupation firsthand. He has also traveled widely within the United States and to Istanbul Turkey and Bologna Italy as a speaker on the U.S. peace movement and world peace.
