Is it true the U.S. president can declare anyone an enemy combatant and whisk them away to GITMO?

even american citizens living in the USA?

all he has to do is sign a piece of paper saying this person is an enemy combatant and a danger to national security...and off to GITMO?

and if so....what mechanism is in place to make sure this power is not abused? I know there is a panel that reviews the validity of the enemy combatant charge, but that panel is appointed by the president...so that is not really independent overview, and I know the GITMO prisoners can certain limited tribunal reviews, but again the tribunals are not free and open trials and are controlled by the president too...and the defendant's attorney cant even discuss with the press the facts of the client's case...so that is not a check and balance either.

so...how did this happen to the united states...after over 200 years of history and traditions that has actually viewed that government should not have that kind of broad power over the people...and that citizens are entitled to a free and fair trial by jury of their peers whenever charged with a crime?

Yes. It doesn't have to be the President though. Any federal official can do it. This is known as Bush's Patriot Act, the most illegal; piece of legislation ever passed in the USA. Bush has trashed our constitution with the help of Congress. Write your US Senator and Congressman. Until the public speaks up loud enough Bush's destructive policies will not end. Baracka spoke out against the Patriot Act, but voted for it, being the sly one he is.

Yes. Ever heard of the Patriot Act, and FISA? It gave the federal government and President, tremendous power to let federal agencies spy on the population, whether it is on the phone, email intrusion, more cameras installed in public/private areas, more ID cards, such as National ID, which contains your private data/info, and without hesitation, let's the police, or any governments officials go inside your home "without" a warrant.
ALL of this only made our glorious Bill of Rights weaker, and undermined our great old Constitution.

Under our Constitution, we have a system of checks and balances, with the executive, legislative, and judicial branches keeping each other from running amok. Bush has been able to circumvent this and get away with all kinds of excesses and abuses because Congress is too deadlocked and polarized to stop him.

WE THE PEOPLE
need to tell Congress and the entire administration
that it is UNACCEPTABLE to have "law" that was
pushed through the system without time for Congress to even read it much less disscuss/debate the bill.

UNCONSTITUTIONAL .. UNETHICAL!

All of the Senators and Congresspeople who voted for the
PATRIOT UN-Natural ACT should be fired for cause, and never work on the public payroll ever!

Yes it's true. The Patriot act is what allows him to do this. How did it happen? 9-11. In a way, the terrorists won; because the USA hasn't been the same since that day, and it will probably never be the same again.

Republicans have run this country for 20 of the last 28 years. Your answer is there; however, the liberals get blamed for "trashing" the constitution. What about the fourth amendment?

Under the current rules,yes they can.........

The patriot act sucks, however their are NO enemy combatants at GITMO,NONE,NADA, ZIP...all the detainees at GITMO and simlar places are from outside the realm of enemy combatant ,those guys are all in various POW camps etc thru out IRAQ the Guys at GITMO or where ever are insurgents,conspirators,spies,enemy provacatuers terrorists etc, If they were common enemy soldiers they'd have to be treated in accordance with international law for the housing /treatment of POWs , their names released ,allow to see red cross/red cresent workers etc..by denying them combatant status they arent entitled to diddly, no required release at the end of formal hostlilities (we can hold them as long as we want and dont have to tell anyone squat about them) and they arent entitled to any of the rights/protections extended to captured enemy personnel..byrights they could have been summarily lined up and shot in the field and its totally legal under military and international law, becaus ethey werent partof any official army or entity engaging in a legally declared war,but rather were attacking,or planning actions out of uniform and outside a recognised chain of command..the press and some political types are making a big deal when they think it will influence votes or sell papers but nothing ILLegal or irregular is going on at the detainee camps.