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Washington, D.C. - Over the last several weeks, we’ve worked hard in Congress to address issues that truly matter to people here in our community and across the nation. I can think of few issues as important as protecting our men and women in uniform and ensuring our national security.
I think that we can all agree that since the terrorist attacks of September 11, we live in a different world. We travel differently, we think differently, and we are engaged in a new kind of war – a global war that extends far beyond the battlefield.
In order to stay ahead of our enemy, we need to continue to change our tactics, our policies and procedures, and our thinking. One way is to create a fair judicial system that provides the legal framework to try suspected terrorists and bring them to justice.
Before September 11, there was never a need for Congress to create such a tribunal. But because we are living in a new environment where we have captured hundreds of terrorists who wish to harm our nation and its interests, it is critical that we establish an effective process to hold these terrorists accountable. However, we can only do that successfully if we ensure the safety and protection of our troops and intelligence.
That is why I recently supported the Military Commissions Act of 2006, a bold plan which creates a system of military tribunals that will bring terrorists to justice, remain true to American values, and most importantly, protect our troops fighting the war on terror.
This legislation ensures that terrorists have legal rights. These include the presumption of innocence, the right to counsel, a standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, and the right against compulsory self-incrimination, among others. The Act also affords terrorists the right to be present at legal proceedings.
Some of you have called my office in recent weeks to ask questions about how the military tribunals will work. Specifically, some of you had questions about whether evidence against a suspected terrorist shared in a military tribunal would affect our national security. The legislation addresses this concern by allowing only evidence to be presented and shared that would not be detrimental to our national security. Our priority must always be our national security.
While the Military Commissions Act complies with U.S. laws and international treaty obligations, like the Geneva Convention, it also complies with our best legal traditions. Furthermore, it protects our nation’s troops and intelligence agents by clarifying exactly what they are and are not allowed to do.
I believe the creation of this full and fair judicial system will give us another important tool as we continue to fight the Global War on Terror. Now we can finally hold terrorists accountable for their actions while protecting our troops, our intelligence, and our citizens.
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