Bush moves to shore up war-on-terror credentials

Democrats face a greater challenge over the substance of Bush's proposed legislation to change the rules for military trials of terror suspects. Last June, the administration suffered a major blow when the Supreme Court struck down the existing rules. Now, Bush is taking defeat and turning it on its ear, going on the offensive by promoting a plan that he promises will bring the likes of Khalid Sheik Mohammed – the self-described mastermind of 9/11 – to justice. Civil libertarians complain Bush's proposal still does not adequately protect the rights of the accused. The president, for example, would allow hearsay evidence in the trials.

Democrats who aggressively challenge Bush run the risk of being portrayed as soft on terror. But internal Republican debate on the matter could provide cover for Demo- crats. Republican Sens. John Warner of Virginia, John McCain of Arizona, and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina have drafted alternative legislation for military trials that would provide the kind of defendant rights that many military lawyers say are essential to due process, such as ensuring a defendant's right to know the evidence against him. The senators, all with military backgrounds, argue that denying such access would set a bad precedent for US military personnel if captured and tried abroad.

Republicans are also divided over how to craft legislation that would officially sanction the warrantless wiretapping program.

But Democrats aren't sitting back, assuming GOP debates won't be resolved, and they are trying to grab news attention on their own. Yesterday, Senate Democratic leaders introduced legislation called the Real Security Act of 2006, containing measures related to both Iraq and the larger war on terror. The proposal contains the so-called Reed-Levin resolution, which calls for redeployment of US troops out of Iraq this year; a provision for heightened security on transportation; rules for military trials of terror detainees; and other changes related to the war on terror.

Bush, meanwhile, delivered the latest in his series of 9/11 speeches yesterday in Atlanta.

"I learned a lot of lessons on 9/11, and one lesson is this: In order to protect the country, we will keep steady pressure, unrelenting pressure, on Al Qaeda and its associates," he said. "We will deny them safe haven. We will find them, and we will bring them to justice."

Bush called on Congress to pass legislation providing additional authority for the wiretapping program, which he calls the Terrorist Surveillance Program, along with reforms to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The warrantless wiretapping program was recently ruled illegal by a federal judge in Detroit.

Earlier this year, Sen. Arlen Specter (R) of Pennsylvania, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Vice President Cheney agreed to a plan that codifies in law the wiretapping plan, but other proposals, some from Republicans, are under consideration in both chambers.

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