You're watching...
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, tells Alan why he’s opposed to the indefinite detention of terror ...
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
And welcome come -- now.
-- of the state of Lexington native -- The very good thing for -- programs like you have been at the forefront.
Of offering an amendment to the -- -- thirteen defense authorization bill that would have repealed the authority.
That.
Would have allowed anybody arrested on US soil.
Too but you know to -- -- possibly they would never have due process right.
-- -- -- -- I'll post vinyl album you know we define someone as -- any -- If they were you know a member of al-Qaeda or any associated group or -- material support.
Did anybody want to determine -- enemy combatant the president can hold you indefinitely.
Without trial without normal due process they had you know potentially -- military -- I find -- very troubling and the fact is that the Republicans and actually some conservative Democrats have allowed this to stand.
Why that the problem -- a lot of people don't understand the issue I think what happened this fear takes over.
People are you know concerned -- you -- we need this to protect ourselves from al-Qaeda but the truth of the matter is we don't you know President Obama have not use the authority.
President Bush use the authority three times but not.
-- -- that the most recent was in 2003.
So the last nine years our federal criminal justice system.
Has been arrested and convicted -- over 400.
Terrorists that system has worked to keep -- say.
And this is a dangerous amount of power elite in the -- that exactly -- President Obama has said he won't use that.
But what about a future president and -- people that we should should expect to Paris well supported we want to make sure -- terrorists to the government does he wore.
You -- certainly.
-- -- you had even know until somebody actually stand trial and also whenever the precept of innocent until proven guilty.
-- -- You know I mean art can process system works -- these people are impatient terrorist activities we have ways to hold them accountable.
But when you have so so such a loose standard is simply detective branch saying what we think you -- -- material support to a terrorist group.
You're locked up that you don't have been processed into them deter either the ability to appeal -- case the risk is that will be locking -- so -- people.
Now you've said for example you pointed out it's unconstitutional.
Have separate legal channels for citizens and non citizens arrested on US soil.
Because the due process applies to persons.
As the constitution states not citizens.
Yet a lot of people don't want to out action that is the big concern and I hate -- US citizens apps -- but just make sure that US citizens are subject to that's.
But the constitution the fourteenth amendment and particularly would guarantee due process rights.
Says each person to person in the US has these due process rights and that's.
That's appropriate I don't think we want the US government to -- a lot didn't -- up.
Without normal process whether -- citizen or lawful there we -- very person in the US.
It's consistent with the constitution.
Not to protect any person.
Narrow your Amendola.
The source -- -- them.
No you don't don't do this -- owner Eric you're amendment failed sadly so what recourse to those of us who really would like to see the constitution respected.
And probably agree with the president who signed this anyway and what what what what recourse do we have.
Bus stop thinking different -- keep the pressure -- -- members of congress could not capitalize the Republican that the -- -- last minutes.
I thought about not allowing my amendment to come up for a vote when he was in the rules committee not allowed to before it would push back very hard against that.
-- then they came up with an alternative the last minute they have to carry this thing that they -- who's gonna protect due process rights that didn't.
It was clear that it didn't that they pulled over a lot -- Tea Party conservatives to vote for that.
-- -- to become obvious what a shell out a memo was.
Think a lot of people are -- -- we take a lot of the Republicans who voted against my amendment.
And in favor of these that the smoke -- amendment.
-- -- tickets or keep the pressure up but also the senate -- -- Mark Udall.
-- the prime sponsor this bill in the senate the senate has not yet considered their version of the armed services bill this year.
It's gonna come -- it just cleared committees so they're how to opportune have a full senate vote on this -- couldn't get it in the senate side that we can fight for improper it's going down.
I'm mindful into the long term battle -- we're gonna keep keep fighting until we succeed in any repeal its authority.
What about that section -- refers to the homeland is basically a battlefield that.
You know -- -- that that's very troubling as well.
Why and that's you know that's the argument -- you'll hear me Lindsey Graham makes its arsenal -- -- -- -- -- war not you know not a not a law enforcement actual truth matters it's well.
We never -- an enemy like this before.
Al -- declare war and it's it's the first time anything other than -- country declared war on us.
So are we any permanent state of war with the military's gonna begin doing enforced in order.
Basically criminal action and you after the dangerous precedent when you had no.
-- ending point for this conflict so you know basically the truth of the matter is our fight against -- aspects -- the war but it also also criminal justice matter.
Proved by the fact that over foreigner terrorists have been arrested convicted.
And so -- -- -- -- these so called underwear bomber struck the blow up the plant in Detroit.
He was arrested.
It is imperative that they got actionable intelligence out of -- and he was convicted -- -- normal due process system that's this.
Analysts -- work or he works we're talking with congressmen -- Smith there was ranking member of the house armed services committee in that capacity.
What's your reaction to this Doctor Who helped us find bin Laden -- -- is a 33 years in prison in Pakistan.
And then.
You know what it's seems like we're being -- -- disrespected.
And there's and then our relationship with this country's deteriorating as we speak.
-- that's true I mean that my initial reaction that that the phrase that hindered by at least started on this subject was Pakistan is a -- In the -- and that thing is.
People -- ensuring that that are following Osama bin Laden and others.
There are far greater threat to Pakistan and short term in America that there.
They're blown up until and Pakistan -- You know virtually every -- open they should be applauding this doctor pepper helping helping anyone find Osama bin Laden's.
But you know they have just got a horrible political system over there are they don't trust the US develop that relationship -- And they are reacting and in a way that's not even logical for their own safety -- the problem is.
Being violent extremism al-Qaeda.
This presence in Pakistan.
It's a part of the world -- we have national security interest and -- the relationships with Pakistan are very very difficult.
It killed -- -- and Shaquille afridi is the man who questioned the queues are running a fake vaccination campaign designed to help the CAA collect bin Laden's DNA.
From his compound which helped capture him.
It it just defies rational thought that he's got 33 years in jail now for this.
Yet the same time that Pakistan -- apple corps we didn't know he was here -- was here.
You know people like -- -- -- now -- now there you know thrown in jail the guy oil that's catch him it's just.
I mean their own public statements -- directly contradictory.
What's the issue on the drones now the Pakistan Muslim League is saying that the NATO should not resume drone strikes until and -- less.
We give assurance in writing that we gonna stop.
That we've stuck noted that -- you know he says we should not.
Do supplies right and -- NATO supply should not resume.
Until -- ensure that there is no more drone attack.
Well first place this is something that I'm not supposed to talk about because we haven't officially recognized that these deep that these things are are happening.
So you know but but obviously you know Pakistan has been very schizophrenic on this issue as well.
And Dionte was it was really important part of that point at least not Pakistan has not.
Not being a country that is helping us in Afghanistan is at this point they're not.
And we're gonna have to you know really maintain this -- very difficult relationship.
I'll try to -- Pakistan accountable but it's not -- history it's.
We need completely don't want the Pakistan government fall apart we take you know nobody's you know you know radical violent extremists.
-- don't want them to fall apart but we also up there on -- after their return.
You agree that we need to stay in Afghanistan for ten years beyond the pullout date of 24 -- even even in a non.
Fighting role.
I do not.
I want to -- you mean by state you have to him.
Well I don't really spinning really -- billions of dollars 00 a month there.
Even after the fight around -- not.
Much I think I think we will -- we have a decent part.
If when all this is sat down we have a decent partner I think some economic justice -- that's.
But I don't wanna see a military role -- outlaw.
You know I think you know this is another thing we have it would deter -- -- this year in the house.
Republicans have language in there that calls for 68000.
Troops staying in Afghanistan until we in the 2014.
The Democrats -- beyond.
I just think we need fewer troops there sooner.
You know we work very hard -- -- and a lot of Afghans we've done a lot of work -- troops have been amazing.
Turning back the Taliban but it's time turns purity over -- the Afghan people.
Our troops they come home and I'm very leery about it in the long term military commitment and.
Combat troops as post -- stay until.
20/20 four what we've been told right.
Yeah and I -- I think that's that's too much to walk out on the -- erupted get their troops out.
-- and in larger numbers.
I hope you're right nobody can make it happen congressman I thank you very much as always for -- -- -- -- tonight.
Appreciate your time.
But I felt I was followed its docket.
