This came in under the radar.

A federal appeals court yesterday backed the president’s power to indefinitely detain a U.S. citizen captured on U.S. soil without any criminal charges, holding that such authority is vital during wartime to protect the nation from terrorist attacks.

If you aren’t frightened by this, then you aren’t paying attention.

The key is here:

The ruling limits the president’s power to detain Padilla to the duration of hostilities against al Qaeda, but the Bush administration has said that war could go on indefinitely.

The government now has the right to lock you up and throw away the key solely because it says you are a threat.

Remember: Just because you aren’t a threat now, doesn’t mean you won’t be a threat in the future.