military tribunals

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