Will U.S. Defense Bill Give The Military The Power To Detain Americans Indefinitely?

Stage Set For Fight Over Detainee Legislation -- Washington Post

The battle over the handling of terrorism detainees escalates in Washington this week, with the Senate scheduled to take up legislation that would mandate military custody for some suspects and prevent the administration from transferring detainees out of the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Before the holiday break, the Senate Armed Services Committee crafted what it saw as compromise legislation that would allow detainees to be held in either civilian or military custody. The legislation would, as backers had originally envisioned, require military custody for al-Qaeda suspects who participate in the planning or execution of attacks against the United States. But it would also provide the administration with a waiver to hold those suspects in civilian custody if it determines that doing so would best serve U.S. national security interests.

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More News On U.S. Detainee Legislation

US Senate faces key vote on new detainee rules -- AFP
Detainee Fight Goes to Senate -- Wall Street Journal
FBI director raises concerns with defense bill policy on handling suspected terrorists -- Washington Post/AP
Sens. Levin, McCain fire back at the White House over detainee veto threat -- The Hill
ACLU claims Senate bill would let military detain Americans without trial -- Examiner
Secret Bill To Be Voted On Today Would Allow The Military To Sweep Up US Citizens At Home Or Abroad -- Business Insider
Senate Bill to OK Indefinite Detention of U.S. Citizens Without Charge, Trial -- Jack Kenny, New America
Senate wants to turn USA into battlefield, internment for Americans -- RT
Defense bill offers balance in dealing with detainees -- Carl Levin and John McCain, Washington Post
Defense bill gives military too much responsibility for detainees -- Mark Udall, Washington Post
Is Guantanamo forever? -- Andrea Prasow, Salon