DOS Memo re: Press Guidence for Answering Questions About Prosecution of Terrorists in Military Commissions

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State Department talking points on military tribunals for Prosecution of Terrorists in Military Commissions.

Doc_type: 
Non-legal Memo
Doc_date: 
Thursday, November 15, 2001
Rec_aclu_path: 
https://www.thetorturedatabase.org/node/6158
Doc_pdf_path: 
Doc_rel_date: 
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Doc_text: 

UNCLASSIFIED
~
.' RELEASED IN PART
L Press Guidance
B5
November 15,2001

Prosecution ofTerrorists in Military Commissions
Q:
Do you have any response to criticism that prosecution of civilians by military tribunals contradicts past State Department objections?

A.
--THE MILITARY COMMISSIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THE PRESIDENT'S ORDER ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE FAIR TRIALS. THEY FOLLOW A LONG TRADITION OF THE USE BY THE UNITED STATES OF MILITARY TRIBUNALS. THEY ARE PERMITTED BY EXISTING STATUTES AND CONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL lAW.

-WE HAVE FULlL CONFIDENCE THAT ANY U.S. MILITARY COMMISSIONS WILL PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF ANY DEFENDANTS WHO MAY BE DESIGNATED BY THE PRESIDENT FOR TRIAL BEFORE THEM.
-THE PRESIDENTIAL ORDER REQUIRES THAT THERE BE A "FULL AND F'A1R TRIAL."
-ME,MBERS OF AL QAIDA ARE "UN LA WFUL COMBATANTS" UNDER THE LAW OF ARMED CONFLICT, AND MAY BE TRIED FOR THEIR TERRORIST ACTS IN MILITARY COMMISSIONS.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY: ARCHIE M BOLSTER
DATE/CASE 10: 14 DEC 2004 200303827 UNCLASSIFIED D05-001072
________________....________11
.! ....
UNCLASSIFIED

Background:
The President's order ofNovember 13, 2001 authorizes the Secretary ofDefense to establish military commissions to prosecute persons detennined by the President (1) to be members ofal Qaida, (2) to have engaged in Or aided acts of international terrorism that have caused or threatened injury to the Uniteq States. or (3) to have knowingly harbored such persons. The President must also determine in each case that it is in the interest of the United States that the individual be subject to the order. '
In the past, the Department has criticized other governments for military trials wri=th~__---, political overtones and where basic due process protections were not provided.'
'B5
Drafted: LlOES -Evan T. Bloom Doc. 22021 x71694 Cleared: L -W Taft
UPM -T Buchwald (subs) S/WCI -P Prosper S/CT -JReap

005-001073
UNCLASSIFIED

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Doc_nid: 
6158
Doc_type_num: 
63