Does the US need a new "Underground Railroad".

[barts]

With the passage of H.R. 1540, the “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012" the mere suspicion, valid or not, of a person being a "terrorist" or supporting "terrorism" can result in indefinite military detention. Indefinite definition, of course, as recent American military history has shown, will enable all means of abuse including the murder of those detained.

The notion of terrorism is extremely broad and is getting broader as lobbyists for corporate interests persuade their paid Congressmen to include all forms of dissent that might have economic consequences under the definition of terrorism. Terrorism is what the government or military says it is on any given day, as politically convenient. For example, under the United States Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act,

In 2009, four individuals were indicted under the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act for peacefully protesting on public property outside the homes of professors conducting research involving animal testing. While the charges were eventually dismissed, the defendants were placed under house arrest for almost a year. The AETA effectively granted law enforcement officers the authority to obstruct activism and free expression merely by deciding to pursue the criminal investigation.

Now with H.R. 1540 these four individuals would not have to be charged at all, merely detained somewhere in the American Gulag around the world.

Arguably, any act of dissent or supporting an act of dissent (perhaps making a contribution to PETA or Wikileaks, for example, will be deemed supporting terrorism) now in the United States can be deemed "terrorism" and those involved detained indefinitely.

That being said should those brave few left in the US who believe in freedom, liberty, and the rule of law begin developing a new Underground Railroad to help those targeted by the United States get to free countries like Canada and Mexico, and then perhaps to other countries that do still operate under the rule of law. I'm thinking of a clandestine system much like that operated behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany or in WWII to get Jews to safety.

Being in a free country won't guarantee protection of anyone deemed a terrorist by the US military because H.R. 1540 allows the US military to send assassins to any country and detain or kill anyone, but it may help.

Given that the US is no longer operating under the rule of law, it is likely that the courts in countries like Canada will look favorably on granting political refugee status to people at risk of being indefinitely detained by the US on mere suspicion. In the US it seems it would be prudent to consider anyone who dissents or is an activist to be "at risk".

But first, of course, people need to get to a safe country that recognizes human rights and the rule of law. For that a new Underground Railway may be needed.

[Angry Citizen]

The moment I hear of any abuse from this law is the moment I pack my bags and request political refugee status. And yes, I don't think that's the tiniest bit overdramatic.

Not sure if you're seriously suggesting an 'underground railroad' though. It's much harder these days to escape the watchful eye of the thought poli--excuse me, the honorable civil police forces, and aiding and abetting a 'terrorist' is much more serious than aiding and abetting an escaped slave.

[Dieval]

The moment I hear of any abuse from this law is the moment I pack my bags and request political refugee status. And yes, I don't think that's the tiniest bit overdramatic.

Where are you heading?

[Angry Citizen]

Thinking France or Quebec. Maybe Wallonia, but I don't think they have much of an aerospace industry. I'm keen on Francophone countries/regions.

[ironeagle]

The Canadians would give us all away frankly instead of hiding we should be speaking louder and fighting as our forefathers did against Tryanny.

[barts]

The moment I hear of any abuse from this law is the moment I pack my bags and request political refugee status. And yes, I don't think that's the tiniest bit overdramatic.

I would not be surprised if the courts of most countries that are governed by the rule of law would, indeed, accept you as a genuine political refugee.

[Dieval]

Thinking France or Quebec. Maybe Wallonia, but I don't think they have much of an aerospace industry. I'm keen on Francophone countries/regions.

I hear the grass is always greener there....please report back

[ruksak]

I think an underground railroad would be outstanding. We could ship the invaders out of the country from every Capitol city in America. It would be somewhat more humane than my idea of constructing a massive cannon in Nogales Arizona, called the Mexicannon, that would volley the criminals back to their own downtrodden nation. Only after stripping them of our American cash so as not to send any more than necessary into the drug toilet of the world, Mexico, of course.

[barts]

Only after stripping them of our American cash so as not to send any more than necessary into the drug toilet of the world, Mexico, of course.

Seems perverse to me to condemn Mexico as "the drug toilet of the world" for producing and exporting products that are almost entirely sold to Americans, and which results in deadly crime of immense proportion because of America's politically-motivated "War on Drugs".

[ruksak]

Seems perverse to me to condemn Mexico as "the drug toilet of the world" for producing and exporting products that are almost entirely sold to Americans, and which results in deadly crime of immense proportion because of America's politically-motivated "War on Drugs".

If you can tell me what an American is then I'll listen to the rest of your story.

[barts]

If you can tell me what an American is then I'll listen to the rest of your story.

For the purpose of this thread, an American is anyone residing in the United States of America.