The Military Tribunals Debate

Oct 9, 2003

Authors: Tova Andrea Wang

Publisher(s): The Century Foundation

In November 2001, President Bush issued an order establishing special military tribunals that will operate outside of the normal courts of justice and military courts-martial. The directive allows the president to order the military detention of any noncitizen the president has "reason to believe" is or was a member of al Qaeda or who took part in "international terrorism" directed at the United States, or who knowingly harbored such culprits. The order says that "if the individual is to be tried," he or she must be tried by a military commission using rules and procedures to be designed by the Pentagon.