2006年VOA标准英语-US House Passes Bill Allowing Military to Try D

（单词翻译）

By Dan Robinson
Washington
27 September 2006

The House of Representatives Wednesday approved legislation establishing new guidelines for the handling of terrorist suspects in U.S. custody¹. The 253 to 168 vote was preceded by emotional debate.

----

		Exterior2 of bunkhouse at Guantanamo " src="http://www.tingroom.com/upimg/allimg/070428/1502420.jpg" width="210" border="0" /> Exterior of bunkhouse at Guantanamo

If approved by both chambers⁴ of Congress and signed by the president, the legislation would establish legal guidelines for detaining and interrogating⁵ detainees and trying them before military commissions.

A Supreme⁶ Court ruling last June struck down Bush administration plans for military tribunals, and formed another backdrop for the debate.

With the White House and Americans watching closely, Republicans such as Congressman⁷ Duncan Hunter argued that on-the-ground realities facing American intelligence and military personnel underscore the importance of the legislation.

"In this new war, where intelligence is more vital than ever, we want to interrogate⁸ the enemy," said Duncan Hunter. "Not to degrade them, but to save the lives of American troops, American civilians⁹ and our allies. But it is not practical on the battlefield to read the enemy their "Miranda" warnings [legal rights]."

Democrats¹¹ and Republicans disagreed over key aspects of compliance¹² with the Geneva Conventions, habeas corpus (an order to formally charge a detaine), or the right of a detainee to seek release from unlawful imprisonment¹³, and definitions of coercion¹⁴ during interrogations and admissibility of evidence.

Republicans such as Congressman Jim Saxton repeatedly pointed¹⁵ to provisions they say prohibit torture and provide basic fairness.

"It outlaws¹⁶ torture, mandates¹⁷ decent treatment for enemy unlawful combatants who are in our custody, protects Americans from frivolous¹⁸ lawsuits¹⁹ and prosecutions²⁰, and most critically provides a fair, balanced and civilized²¹ process by which the international war criminals may be held accountable for their action," said Jim Saxton.

Democratic Congressman Ike Skelton points to provisions he maintains leave the legislation and military tribunal rulings resulting from it open to court challenges on constitutional grounds.

"Provisions that strip the federal courts of jurisdiction²² over habeas corpus," noted²³ Ike Skelton. "Article One of the Constitution prohibits ex-post-facto [retroactive] laws, that is what this creates. It is questionable²⁴ as to whether under Article Three of the Constitution the Supreme Court would uphold a system that purports²⁵ to make the president the final arbiter²⁶ of the Geneva Conventions."

Debate was interrupted three times by protesters shouting from the visitor's gallery of the House chamber³.

PROTESTER: "We need to observe the Geneva Conventions!"

Senate lawmakers began an extended debate on their version of the bill. Republican leader Bill Frist urged quick approval.

"The American people can't afford to wait, even though we are in the midst of an election year this issue, the safety and security of the American people should transcend²⁷ partisan²⁸ politics," said Bill Frist.

Democrat¹⁰ Carl Levin says the Senate measure, contains "modest improvements" from an original Bush administration version, but asserts the legislation still undermines U.S. legal principles.

"The changes that appear in the bill which is now before us, taken together, will put our own troops at risk if other countries decide to apply similar standards to our troops if they are captured or detained," pointed out Carl Levin.

The Republican-controlled House rejected a last minute Democrat attempt to turn back the bill.

Senate approval of its version would clear the way for President Bush to sign it into law before the mid-term legislative²⁹ elections November 7.