Speaker Hastert on Terrorist Tribunal Legislation

Speaker Hastert on Terrorist Tribunal Legislation
Democrats Vote to Support Terrorist Rights

Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL) today issued the following statement regarding the passage of H.R. 6166, the Military Commissions Act of 2006. The bill passed 253-168 with 160 Democrats voting against the bill.

"The Global War on Terror is different from any war we have ever known. It is fought on many different battlefields and in many different settings. As a country we must understand that adaptation to these new situations is critical in order to achieve victory over those who seek to hurt us as a nation.

"That is why this Terrorist Tribunal Legislation is so vital. It adapts our judicial system to allow for the prosecution and punishment of these suspected enemy combatants while maintaining the basic rights that we all hold dear. These terrorist tribunals will allow the suspected terrorists to address the charges against them, with legal defense provided by the U.S. government. In addition, classified evidence is protected from disclosure to the accused terrorists.

"House Republicans have worked hard to create a system that will protect our troops on the battlefield, while also conforming to international laws and treaty obligations. This is not enough for the Democrats who continue to support rights for terrorists. In fact, Democrat Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and 159 of her Democrat colleagues voted today in favor of MORE rights for terrorists. So the same terrorists who plan to harm innocent Americans and their freedom worldwide would be coddled, if we followed the Democrat plan.

"House Republicans remain committed to firm prosecution and will continue to fight against these enemies of America, in spite of our Democrat colleagues."

http://speaker.house.gov/library/terrorism/060927terroristtribunal.shtml