House Republicans back Bush on tribunals

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Republican congressmen this week rallied to support U.S. President George W. Bush after he signed the Military Commissions Act into law.

"The measure creates a new judicial process for the fair and effective prosecution of terrorists captured in the ongoing Global War on Terrorism," the Armed Services Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives said in a statement Tuesday.

House Armed Services Committee chairman Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., said, "I am especially pleased that this measure is now the law of the land. The Military Commissions Act will prosecute terrorists fairly while also preserving the ability of our warfighters to operate effectively on the battlefield."

Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Pa., a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, said: "I am pleased that the President has signed into law the Military Commissions Act." Weldons aid the act "will enhance our ability to detain and prosecute terrorists who wish to do harm to the citizens of the United States."

Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., praised the measure's strong provisions regarding interrogations.

"I am particularly pleased the Military Commissions Act upholds the use of strenuous interrogation methods while protecting our men and women from frivolous lawsuits and providing them with the needed guidance to do their jobs," he said.

Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., who is a member of both the Judiciary and Armed Services Committees, said: "We are in the midst of a war for information against an enemy that neither represents a state nor abides by the laws of civilization. We must arm our intelligence operatives with the tools they need to acquire information that our enemy ruthlessly hides from us."