Senate OKs detainees tribunal bill

The Senate gave its final approval yesterday for President Bush's proposal for interrogating and prosecuting the terror suspects held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, sending the legislation to the White House for Mr. Bush's signature.

The terrorist tribunal bill, a modified version of a proposal offered by Mr. Bush, passed on an 65-34 vote. Fifty-three Republicans and 12 Democrats voted for the bill. Thirty-two Democrats were joined by Sen. Lincoln Chafee, Rhode Island Republican, and Sen. James M. Jeffords, Vermont independent, in voting against the measure. One Republican -- Sen. Olympia J. Snowe of Maine -- did not vote. Senate Roll Call

Minority Whip Harry Reid, Nevada Democrat, led most of his caucus in opposing the plan because, he said, "it does not provide the terror suspects with enough of the civil rights granted to Americans facing trials in U.S. courts."
Reid wants a terrorist bill of rights.
The same bill of rights Americans have.
Reid, you had better not go to Iraq because you might not make it back.
You just may get captured. Then you'll know what your rights are - if you still have a head.

"Debbie Stabenow today sided with trial lawyers and terrorists instead of common sense," Brian Walton, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said after she voted for the amendment. "Stabenow's continued incompetence when it comes to keeping America safe is staggering." Reid, take her with you.

Also yesterday, the House approved the Bush administration's terrorist surveillance program aimed at capturing international communications between terrorist plotters.
"You can't say that you're serious about taking on the terrorists if you stand up here every day and vote 'no,'" said Majority Leader John A. Boehner, Ohio Republican. Washington Times

President Bush yesterday said Democrats have ditched the tradition of the great war-fighting presidents of the 20th century to become
"the party of cut and run," and accused them of using leaked excerpts of a recent intelligence estimate to mislead voters before midterm elections.
In his most politically biting speech yet in this campaign, Mr. Bush slammed his political opponents for not having an Iraq policy, then warned against embracing the conclusions of some top members of their party who say Iraq is a distraction from the war on terror.
"Five years after 9/11, the worst attack on American homeland in our history, the Democrats offer nothing but criticism and obstruction, and endless second-guessing."