Defense Authorization Bill

The Latest Skirmish in Afghanistan: Hate to Say We Told You So

Daphne Eviatar | Posted 03.09.2012

Read More: Hamid Karzai, International Law, Afghanistan, Bagram, Parwan, Due Process, U.S. Military, Indefinite Detention, Torture, Defense Authorization Bill, Ndaa, Politics News

The U.S. government can't credibly insist that the Afghans improve their justice system and treatment of detainees if the U.S. military doesn't first get its own detention house in order.

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Liberty or Security -- Why Can't We Have Both?

Azeem Ibrahim | Posted 03.04.2012

Read More: War on Terror, Defense Authorization Bill Congress, Civil Liberties, Al Franken Senate, Defense Authorization Bill, National Defense Authorization Act, National Defense Authorization Act 2012, Obama Patriot Act, Politics News

So much blood was lost in the name of freedom, yet here we are several generations later, fearful of Islamic terrorism and blandly accepting the serious erosion of our civil liberties with barely a murmur of dissent.

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Obama Must Veto Defense Authorization Bill

Ginny Sloan | Posted 02.12.2012

Read More: Indefinite Detention Veto, National Security, Presidential Veto, Terrorism, Ndaa, Defense Authorization Bill, Politics News

If members of Congress choose -- for the first time in our nation's history -- to codify a system of indefinite detention without charge and authorize such confinement on the basis of suspicion alone, they will do so with their eyes wide open.

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Senate Moving To Complete Bill That Has Drawn White House Veto Threat

AP | DONNA CASSATA | Posted 01.31.2012

Read More: Obama Detainee Policy, Detainee Policy, Video, Defense Authorization Bill, Military, National Defense Authorization Act, Defense Authorization, National Defense Authorization Act 2012, Terrorism, Terrorism Suspects, Indefinite Detention, Politics News

WASHINGTON — Ignoring a presidential veto threat, the Democratic-controlled Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a massive, $662 billion d...

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Senate Rejects Effort To Strip Controversial Provision Opposed By White House

AP | DONNA CASSATA | Posted 01.29.2012

Read More: Mark Udall, Detainee Policy, Obama Detainee Policy, Defense Authorization Bill, Senate Defense Authorization, Video, Terrorism, Defense Authorization Act, Defense Policy, Terrorism Detainees, Obama Detainee, Lindsey Graham, Obama Veto Defense, Obama Veto, Senate Detainee Policy, Detainees, Politics News

WASHINGTON — The Senate on Tuesday rejected an effort to strip divisive provisions from a defense bill that deal with the capture and handling o...

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Worldwide War Provision Makes Its Way Through Congress (and People Thought the Patriot Act Was Bad)

Coleen Rowley | Posted 07.17.2011

Read More: Authorization for Worldwide War Provision, Lone Wolf Terrorists, Patriot Act, Defense Authorization Bill, Washington Times, Roving Wiretap, Worldwide War Provision, Politics News

Something far worse than the Patriot Act, and actually, if you can believe it, something legally worse than anything so far in the "war on terror" is now making its way through Congress.

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Mark Kirk Votes NO: Joins Party To Block Debate Of Don't Ask, Don't Tell In Senate

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Dadt Mark Kirk, Fillibuster, World Trade Center Attacks, Mark Kirk Senate, Mark Kirk, Dadt Repeal, Dadt, Mark Kirk Don't Ask Don't Tell, Gay Rights, Defense Authorization Bill, Dont Ask Dont Tell Repeal, 9/11 Health Bill, Civil Rights, Chicago News

On Thursday, a major defense authorization bill that included the repeal of the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' law was blocked by Senate Republica...

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Will Mark Kirk Vote To Repeal Don't Ask, Don't Tell?

The Huffington Post | Jen Sabella | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Dont Ask Dont Tell Repeal, Defense Authorization Bill, Gay Rights, Dadt Mark Kirk, Mark Kirk, Civil Rights, Dadt Repeal, Dadt, Mark Kirk Don't Ask Don't Tell, Mark Kirk Senate, Chicago News

A Senate vote on the defense authorization bill that includes the repeal of the military's controversial "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy could happen a...

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Senate GOP Leader: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Won't Happen This Year

HuffingtonPost.com | Amanda Terkel | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: John McCain, Defense Authorization Bill, Mitch McConnell, Mitch Mcconnell Dadt, National Defense Authorization Act, Mccain, Lame Duck Session, Senator John McCain, Lame Duck, John Mccain Dadt, Bush Tax Cuts, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Video, Tax Cuts for the Rich, Tax Cuts for the Wealthy, Dadt Repeal, Defense Authorization Act, Tax Cuts, Dadt, Unemployment Benefits, Unemployment Benefits Extension, Sen. Mitch McConnell, John Mccain Dadt Repeal, Politics News

WASHINGTON -- Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sent a message to "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) repeal advocates on Sunday: Don't hold y...

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Time to Listen to Our Military and Repeal DADT

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Don't Ask Don't Tell, Defense Authorization Bill, Dadt Survey, Admiral Mike Mullen, DADT Study, Robert Gates, Don't Ask Don't Tell Study, Politics News

We are now closer than ever before to repealing "Don't Ask Don't Tell" and lifting the ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military.

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Obama And Top Congressional Democrats Call For DREAM Act's Passage Before Year's End

HuffingtonPost.com | Amanda Terkel | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Defense Authorization Bill, Obama Dream Act, Obama Immigration, Sen. Robert Menendez, Bob Menendez, The DREAM Act, Sen. Bob Menendez, Immigration, Robert Menendez, Luis Gutierrez, DREAM Act, Defense Authorization Act, Pelosi Dream Act, Dream Act Vote, National Defense Authorization Act, Dream Act Lame Duck, Reid Dream Act, Nydia Velazquez, Politics News

WASHINGTON -- President Obama met with Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) members Tuesday afternoon and told them he backs their strategy of passing ...

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DADT Repeal Advocates Call For More Aggressive White House Outreach To Capitol Hill

HuffingtonPost.com | Amanda Terkel | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Don't Ask Don't Tell, Defense Authorization Bill, LGBT Rights, Servicemembers Legal Defense Fund, Log Cabin Republicans, Servicemembers United, LGBT Issues, Obama LGBT, Sldn, Dadt Repeal, Defense Authorization Act, White House Dadt, Obama Dadt, Dadt, National Defense Authorization Act, Obama Dadt Repeal, Obama Don't Ask Don't Tell, Politics News

WASHINGTON -- With negotiations heating up over whether the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will be brought up in the lame duck session of C...

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Burris Amendment For Abortion Rights On Army Bases Fails, For Now

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Abortion, Abortions on Military Bases, Defense Authorization Bill, Illinois, Burris Amendment, Roland Burris, Chicago, Chicago News

After Republicans successfully blocked debate on the defense authorization bill Tuesday, much was made of the defeat of immigration reforms in the DRE...

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Support the DREAM

Amy Novick | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Immigration Reform, Defense Authorization Bill, Immigration, Defense Spending, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, DREAM Act, Politics News

The DREAM Act has always been one of the most important facets of comprehensive immigration reform. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that he was bringing the DREAM Act up for a vote.

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What the Changes to DADT Mean: The Good, The Bad and the Politically Dangerous

Nathaniel Frank | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Regulatory Changes, Don't Ask, Defense Authorization Bill, Robert Gates, Defense Secretary, President Obama, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gay Ban, Admiral Mike Mullen, Congress, Pentagon Revisions, Don't Tell, Home News

In announcing today that it would make it harder to fire gay troops under existing policy, the Pentagon took a major step towards ending Don't Ask Don't Tell which could have a real impact on the lives of service members.

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Nuclear Naivete

Joe Cirincione | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: George Shultz, Defense Authorization Bill, President Obama, House of Representatives, Henry Kissinger, Nuclear Weapons, New Start Treaty, John Bolton, Nuclear Security, Admiral Mike Mullen, Sam Nunn, Mike Turner, Hillary Clinton, Bill Perry, Nuclear Posture Review, Keith Payne, Politics News

Far-right conservatives posture as nuclear tough guys, but push a shockingly naive policy. Clinging to Cold War doctrines, they play politics with our nuclear weapons. It is a dangerous game that puts American security at risk.

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After State of the Union, Gates and Mullen Charge the Hill

Aubrey Sarvis | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: House Minority Leader John Boehner, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Pat Buchanan, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Defense Authorization Bill, Senator McCain, Rep. Joe Sestak, President Obama, Senate Armed Services Committee, Sotu, State of the Union, Joint Chiefs Chairman Mike Mullen, Politics News

The Senate Armed Services Committee will soon hear what Defense Secretary Robert Gates and JCS Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen think about repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell.

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Senate Vote at Noon on Nationalizing Concealed Handgun Laws

Josh Sugarmann | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Gun Violence, Defense Authorization Bill, Police Shootings, Violence Policy Center, National Rifle Association, John-Lott, Concealed Carry, Vpc, John Thune, Nra, Concealed Handguns, Charles Schumer, Mass Shootings, Ccw, Politics News

After more than two decades, at noon today the gun lobby's efforts to enact a national concealed handgun law will have its first chance at success when the U.S. Senate votes.

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Senate Set to Nationalize Concealed Handgun Laws That Have Killed 7 Cops, 44 Private Citizens

Josh Sugarmann | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Gun Violence, Concealed Handgun License, Defense Authorization Bill, National Rifle Association, Wayne LaPierre, Tanya Metaksa, Violence Policy Center, Concealed Carry Permit, Concealed Carry, Handgun Violence, Law Enforcement Shootings, Vpc, John Thune, Concealed Handguns, Nra, Charles Schumer, Politics News

For over two decades a top priority of the gun lobby has been establishing and expanding state laws that allow the carrying of concealed handguns by private citizens. This effort may culminate as early as today.

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