The1 percenters have long sought to end our freedoms.  First they stole an election,
then they created 911, next came the wars used as a pretext to create a state that
disenfranchised the people,  through the creation of political feer, in service of their
greed.

It is ironic, that our political class, who are little more than war criminals themselves,
seek to turn our freedoms into crimes. This is how they abet themselves, and cover over
their atrocities. Without freedom, we have become the enemy. This they know, so they
have drafted these laws to protect not the American people, but themselves from the
American people.

To continue their rule fom the shadows, they have to continue to criminalize freedom.
Why else would they fear the truth?

‘Somebody does have to stand guard’—against the American people.

Thus far in the 21st century, the chance of being harmed by a terrorist in the United States is about one in one million.  You are far, far more likely to die in an automobile crash, and no one is suggesting that private automobiles be prohibited.  It’s not a pressing issue until we define terrorism as ‘anything the ruling class doesn’t like’.

However, it seems probable that harder times are coming, of which Occupy Wall Street was a harbinger.  To deal with an angry and rebellious populace, the ruling class would no doubt like their executive to possess arbitrary powers of arrest, detention, and execution without the tedious rigmarole of due process.  That’s the terror here, and that’s the reason for the NDAA.
 
The Man is saving up for a rainy day.

Gosh, Chris can bring a lawsuit against the Predident of the United States, and then criticises the way that the judicial system responds to it?

There is rule of law in the United States; if there were not, his petition would have been ignored, he and his lawyers would have been thrown in jail or killed. His very existence today as free citizen, is proof that the system is not as corrupt as he asserts.

If you would like to learn about a governement where there is no rule of law, and no justice, talk to Liu Xiaobo.

It is worth noting this section is not challenged on its merits in the Hedges
article:

“It is worth reading Sections 1021 and 1022 of the bill. Section 1021 of the
NDAA “includes the authority for the Armed Forces of the United States to
detain covered persons (as defined in subsection (b)) pending disposition under
the law of war.” Subsection B defines covered persons like this: “(b) Covered
Persons—A covered person under this section is any person as follows: (1) A
person who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that
occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored those responsible for those
attacks. (2) A person who was a part of or substantially supported Al-Qaeda,
the Taliban, or associated forces that are engaged in hostilities against the U.S.
or its coalition partners.”

When in fact there is a growing body of evidence beginning with
rememberbuilding7.org and more recently and quite powerfully buttressed by a
new and very well researched exposé at the Asia Times breaking down the
insider trading profits tied to Bush people having pre-knowledge of the 9/11
attacks:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/NC21Dj05.html

In which case Hedges is not ‘challenging the official narrative’ here but tacitly
supporting it. Given this fact, it is worth noting when a poor strategy and mis-
handled case goes into the caselaw history of the USA, it can be used by the
government as precedent to curtail further lawsuits along the same lines with
dismissals based on ‘settled’ questions of law. This next is worth a read as well:

http://dailycensored.com/2012/03/21/the-cia-and-nonviolent-resistance-3/

Thank you Chris for your perseverance and courage to challenge this Unjust law. 
You are an honorable man.  This law is so frightening.  Anybody writing on
Truthdig is probably on a list somewhere.  The fear tactic really does freeze people
into being powerless victims.  Silence kills.  Nazi Germany was an example of
this.  I am afraid.  Read Krugman (NYT) today regarding ALEC.  All we have left is
to stand on the side of Justice with our whole being and not back down.
Every day I see and feel the wonders of nature and I know life is worth defending
to the end.  Onward!

The reasons that these “laws” are not just is that those who create them have so little or no Ethics.  For too many their motives never rise above simple self-service for profits. If any nation wishes to make or even find justice, it must seek the highest of values which are based in Integrity.  Across the board capitalism’s goals are confused with “democracy” and seldom honored.  Until folks come to value an earth based upon true equality, we will continue this degenerating spiral into “...the dream of the planet…” don Miguel Ruiz.  http://www.miguelruiz.com

“. . . whether the statute contains provision for the
accused to be able to, at minimum, rely on a rebuttable
presumption of innocence enforceable via summary
court hearing: again,at minimum.  Can you clarify
whether the statute has such a provision?”

No, it doesn’t have such a provision.  We’re all guilty
until proven innocent in this brave new world.

Many thanks for your patriotic work, Mr. Hedges.  You
are one of the few that might make one proud to be an
American citizen.  Passing through security and
immigration on returning from overseas yesterday, I was
not an American citizen, I was an American suspect.