Obama, Lincoln, and the National Defense Authorization Act

Lincoln has long been seen as a historic defender of the constitution and the union among the populace. Few choose to remember the sacrifices Lincoln made to preserve the union. These sacrifices included instituting martial law and suspending the writ of habeas corpus. It is still unknown if Lincoln’s violations of the constitution were truly necessary to preserve the Union. 

America has found itself in a similar, though far less perilous, situation since the terrorist attacks of 9-11. President Obama recently found himself in a situation where he must choose between restricting the constitution in the name of security or not. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 gives the American government the power to detain suspected enemies of the state without trial, an action eerily similar to those of Lincoln. 

Although the actions of Obama are not very different from his predecessor, what is different is the reverence Obama has for Lincoln. Some have criticized Obama for agreeing to pass a bill whose unclear wording could lead to the unjust incarceration of people vaguely defined as “allies of Al Qaeda.” On December 31, 2011 Obama passed the National Defense Authorization Act, even though the bill allows for  the continued use of overseas detention centers for suspected enemies of America. Although the situations differ vastly between Obama and Lincoln, what is important to note is the similar ways they chose to solve the problems facing the country.