WASHINGTON, Sep 27 -

U.S. House Armed Services Committee Vice Chairman Curt Weldon (R-Pa.) today released the following statement upon the passage of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 (H.R. 6166).

“The Military Commissions Act creates a fair and speedy process to bring terrorists to justice without sacrificing crucial intelligence. This compromise legislation safeguards America’s intelligence and military personnel by adequately defining the limits and protections of Common Article 3 of the Geneva Convention.

“Since September 11th, America has worked with her allies to adapt to a new global landscape of conflict – where its enemies are stateless religious fanatics that disregard international standards of prisoner treatment let alone human rights. 

“These terrorists have tortured, incinerated and beheaded many of their captives to include United States citizens and military personnel. Their active pursuit to destroy our way of life reflects the urgency to hunt them down and bring them to justice.

“The Bush Administration had, until the Hamdan v. Rumsfeld case, taken to addressing this legal minefield without the input of Congress. I am pleased that the Administration has since worked with us to develop a process that protects the fundamental legal rights of alien enemy combatants.