Archives For NDAA
Credit: Ted Warren / AP
The Washington Post recently reported on the Pentagon suspending Program 1033, and likely the 1122 Procurement Program, which authorizes military equipment to U.S. police departments for free or significantly reduced prices. Interesting that the writers failed to identify the program by name.
1033 law enforcement recipients take in millions worth of military gear, aircraft, vehicles and arms every year. The sister program, 1122, provides recipients with access to equipment specifically for counter-drug activities. In an ever increasing militarization of police departments, requests for such equipment is a growing trend.
No surprise both the 1033 and 1122 programs were created through National Defense Authorization Acts in the 90s. Under President Clinton, these programs were hyped as a way to save tax payer dollars, when in fact, they’ve bloated into an annual 2.6 billion exchange, not including the costs to staff and operate.
The Pentagon concern over this Santa Claus weapons wish-list is whether or not agencies are following government guidelines, including proper inventory records, and red flags, such as altering the equipment without approval, or selling equipment. This halt is being enforced nationwide, and although it’s being played in the press as a proactive accountability measure, the truth is this program has already shown signs of trouble. The fact that most agencies only keep paper records, and nothing electronically, is also a problem. Agencies rack up man hours to physically review documents, wasting time and money.
The February 2012 newsletter from the Department of Defense’s Law Enforcement Support Office makes note that several agencies were suspended for failure to conduct an annual inventory, and several others were being terminated. This halt also comes after reports that agencies have been selling weapons equipment to non law-enforcement agencies, for profit.
All of this fuels growing citizen concern over the very concept of militarizing civilian police, the enormous funds associated with these programs, and the continued failure of government accountability.
Last December, Democracy Now covered these concerns in light of the new domestic drone programs, which will include police use.
U.S. District Judge, Katherine Forrest has found NDAA constitutional and issued a preliminary injunction preventing the government from administering section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012, which allows for indefinite detention of Americans with alleged terrorist ties.
A step in the right direction.
Official press release on journalist Chris Hedges’ lawsuit against President Obama, and other administration, over NDAA unconstitutional detention of American citizens.
Reporter Chris Hedges is one of many notable U.S. names who are joined in a series of lawsuits against President Obama, and administration, regarding the constitutionality of the 2012 NDAA detention provisions. The justifiable concern by media and press members sympathetic to protest movements, specifically the occupy protests, could be considered or treated as threats to national security.
In writer and journalist Naomi Wolf’s account of the below hearing, federal lawyers could not, or would not, give specifics to provisions of detention under NDAA, but could not rule out arresting reporters for reporting, occupy protestors for protesting, or a writer of a hypothetical book with political statements.
Credit: AP
If you remember back a few months, Ms. Wolf was arrested outside a private NY gala dinner after coming out and talking with occupy protestors. After informing the small crowd of their right to protest and encouraging them to peacefully assemble and walk single-file on the public sidewalk, she was arrested. Charges were later dropped.
The entire document is worth reading, and paints a clear picture of how few answers we’re getting from the federal government on these questionable new laws.
Others involved in the suit include Ms. Wolf, Cornel West, Daniel Ellsberg, and Noam Chomsky.
