Cheers, Ken Hanly
Bush Order: Terror Trials by Military
By Ron Fournier AP White House Correspondent Tuesday, November 13, 2001; 6:00 PM
WASHINGTON -- President Bush signed an order Tuesday that would allow for the trial of people accused of terrorism by a special military commission instead of civilian courts, The Associated Press has learned.
The order, signed by Bush before he left for Crawford, Texas, gives the Bush administration another avenue to bring the Sept. 11 terrorists to justice, said White House counsel Albert Gonzales.
"This is a new tool to use against terrorism," Gonzales said in a telephone interview. The White House was to release the order late Tuesday.
Gonzales, a former Texas Supreme Court judge who is the president's top lawyer, said a military commission could have several advantages over a civilian court. It is easier to protect the sources and methods of investigators in military proceedings, for example, and a military trial can be held overseas.
Gonzales said there may be times when prosecutors feel a trial in America would be unsafe.
"There may not be a need for this and the president may make a determination that he does not want to use this tool, but he felt it appropriate that he have this tool available to him," the lawyer said