Obama Withdraws Threat of Veto Over Detainee Rules - House Passes Bill

President Barack Obama on Wednesday withdrew his threat to veto a Pentagon-funding bill that increases military authority over terrorism detainees, even though counterterrorism officials voiced concerns the legislation injects new uncertainty into sensitive national-security investigations. Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Robert Mueller said Wednesday that the bill failed to resolve his concerns over the military custody-issue despite changes included by the conference committee. Several hours later, the White House said Mr. Obama was dropping his objections and tried to portray it as a victory for the president. The House approved the $662 billion bill Wednesday night, and a Senate vote could come Thursday. An unusual alliance of civil-liberties groups, tea-part activists and the FBI lobbied against the detainee provisions. Tea-party activists and civil libertarians oppose the provision authorizing the indefinite detention without trial of some terrorism suspects, possibly including American citizens. Mr. Obama has outlined plans to use indefinite detention, and lawmakers in both parties sought to make clear such a practice is legal. On Twitter, tea-party activists urged voters to call lawmakers to state objections. "From a legacy perspective he's basically the first president in history to authorize indefinite detention without trial in the United States of America," said Laura Pitter, counterterrorism adviser to Human Rights Watch, which urged the president to veto the legislation.The chief forces behind the military-custody provision were Sen. Carl Levin (D., Mich.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Arizona Sen. John McCain, the senior Republican on the panel...more

Since he is co-author of the legislation, I'm sure Senator Levin can clear things up for us:

Mr. Levin was asked Monday night whether Americans were subject to indefinite detention. He said: "That's up to a court as to whether or not they're a combatant. If you're an enemy combatant, at that point you're kept until the war is over. When's the war over? Nobody knows."

How refreshing.  At least they are now admitting they have no idea how this bill will be implemented. 

House approves defense bill on detainees

Heinrich & Lujan voted against the bill, Pearce voted for it.