Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Enemy Belligerent Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act of 2010: You are the terrorist now

A Detention Bill You Ought to Read More Carefully

MAR 5 2010, 3:40 PM ET

Why is the national security community treating the "Enemy Belligerent, Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act of 2010," introduced by Sens. John McCain and Joseph Lieberman on Thursday as a standard proposal, as a simple response to the administration's choices in the aftermath of the Christmas Day bombing attempt? A close reading of the bill suggests it would allow the U.S. military to detain U.S. citizens without trial indefinitely in the U.S. based on suspected activity. Read the bill here, and then read the summarized points after the jump.
According to the summary, the bill sets out a comprehensive policy for the detention, interrogation and trial of suspected enemy belligerents who are believed to have engaged in hostilities against the United States by requiring these individuals to be held in military custody, interrogated for their intelligence value and not provided with a Miranda warning.

(There is no distinction between U.S. persons--visa holders or citizens--and non-U.S. persons.)

It would require these "belligerents" to be coded as "high-value detainee[s]" to be held in military custody and interrogated for their intelligence value by a High-Value Detainee Interrogation Team established by the president. (The H.I.G., of course, was established to bring a sophisticated interrogation capacity to the federal justice system.)

Any suspected unprivileged enemy belligerents considered a "high-value detainee" shall not be provided with a Miranda warning.

The bill asks the President to determine criteria for designating an individual as a "high-value detainee" if he/she: (1) poses a threat of an attack on civilians or civilian facilities within the U.S. or U.S. facilities abroad; (2) poses a threat to U.S. military personnel or U.S. military facilities; (3) potential intelligence value; (4) is a member of al Qaeda or a terrorist group affiliated with al Qaeda or (5) such other matters as the President considers appropriate. The President must submit the regulations and guidance to the appropriate committees of Congress no later than 60 days after enactment.

To the extent possible, the High-Value Detainee Interrogation Team must make a preliminary determination whether the detainee is an unprivileged enemy belligerent within 48 hours of taking detainee into custody.

The High-Value Detainee Interrogation Team must submit its determination to the Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General after consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General make a final determination and report the determination to the President and the appropriate committees of Congress. In the case of any disagreement between the Secretary of Defense and the Attorney General, the President will make the determination.

This is the Bill every line is evil:

111THCONGRESS

2DSESSION

S. ll

To provide for the interrogation and detention of enemy belligerents who

commit hostile acts against the United States, to establish certain limita-

tions on the prosecution of such belligerents for such acts, and for

other purposes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

llllllllll

Mr. MCCAINintroduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred

to the Committee on

llllllllll

A BILL

To provide for the interrogation and detention of enemy

belligerents who commit hostile acts against the United

States, to establish certain limitations on the prosecution

of such belligerents for such acts, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-

1

tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

2

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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This Act may be cited as the


‘‘Enemy Belligerent Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act of 2010’’.

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March 4, 2010 (12:06 p.m.)

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ARM10090 S.L.C.

SEC. 2. PLACEMENT OF SUSPECTED UNPRIVILEGED ENEMY

BELLIGERENTS IN MILITARY CUSTODY.

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(a) MILITARYCUSTODYREQUIREMENT.—Whenever

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within the United States, its territories, and possessions,

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or outside the territorial limits of the United States, an

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individual is captured or otherwise comes into the custody

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or under the effective control of the United States who

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is suspected of engaging in hostilities against the United

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States or its coalition partners through an act of ter-

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rorism, or by other means in violation of the laws of war,

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or of purposely and materially supporting such hostilities,

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and who may be an unprivileged enemy belligerent, the

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individual shall be placed in military custody for purposes

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of initial interrogation and determination of status in ac-

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cordance with the provisions of this Act.

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(b) REASONABLE DELAY FOR INTELLIGENCE AC-

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TIVITIES.—An individual who may be an unprivileged

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enemy belligerent and who is initially captured or other-

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wise comes into the custody or under the effective control

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of the United States by an intelligence agency of the

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United States may be held, interrogated, or transported

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by the intelligence agency and placed into military custody

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for purposes of this Act if retained by the United States

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within a reasonable time after the capture or coming into

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the custody or effective control by the intelligence agency,

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giving due consideration to operational needs and require-

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March 4, 2010 (12:06 p.m.)

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ARM10090 S.L.C.

ments to avoid compromise or disclosure of an intelligence

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mission or intelligence sources or methods.

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SEC. 3. INTERROGATION AND DETERMINATION OF STATUS

OF SUSPECTED UNPRIVILEGED ENEMY BELLIGERENTS.

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(a) ESTABLISHMENTOFINTERROGATIONGROUPS.—

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(1) ESTABLISHMENTAUTHORIZED.—The Presi-

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dent is authorized to establish an interagency team

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for purposes as follows:

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(A) To interrogate under subsection (b) in-

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dividuals placed in military custody under sec-

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tion 2.

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(B) To make under subsection (c)(1) a

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preliminary determination of the status of indi-

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viduals described in section 2.

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(2) COMPOSITION.—Each interagency team

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under this subsection shall be composed of such per-

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sonnel of the Executive Branch having expertise in

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matters relating to national security, terrorism, in-

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telligence, interrogation, or law enforcement as the

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President considers appropriate. The members of

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any particular interagency team may vary depending

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on the skills most relevant to a particular case.

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(3) DESIGNATIONS.—

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(A) HIGH-VALUE DETAINEE.An indi-

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vidual placed in military custody under section

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2 shall, while subject to interrogation and de-

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termination of status under this section, be re-

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ferred to as a ‘‘high-value detainee’’ if the indi-

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vidual meets the criteria for treatment as such

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established in the regulations required by sub-

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section (d).

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(B) HIGH-VALUE DETAINEE INTERROGA-

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TIONGROUP.—An interagency team established

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under this subsection shall be known as a

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‘‘high-value detainee interrogation group’’.

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(b) INTERROGATIONS.—

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(1) INTERROGATIONS TO BE CONDUCTED BY

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HIGH-VALUEDETAINEEINTERROGATIONGROUP.—A

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high-value detainee interrogation group established

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under this section shall conduct the interrogations of

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each high-value detainee.

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(2) UTILIZATION OF OTHER PERSONNEL.—A

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high-value detainee interrogation group may utilize

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military and intelligence personnel, and Federal,

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State, and local law enforcement personnel, in con-

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ducting interrogations of a high-value detainee. The

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utilization of such personnel for the interrogation of

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a detainee shall not alter the responsibility of the in-

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March 4, 2010 (12:06 p.m.)

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ARM10090 S.L.C.

terrogation group for the coordination within the

1

Executive Branch of the interrogation of the de-

2

tainee or the determination of status and disposition

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of the detainee under this Act.

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(3) INAPPLICABILITYOFCERTAINSTATEMENT

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AND RIGHTS.A individual who is suspected of

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being an unprivileged enemy belligerent shall not,

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during interrogation under this subsection, be pro-

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vided the statement required by Miranda v. Arizona

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(384 U.S. 436 (1966)) or otherwise be informed of

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any rights that the individual may or may not have

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to counsel or to remain silent consistent with Mi-

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randa v. Arizona.

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(c) DETERMINATIONSOFSTATUS.—

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(1) PRELIMINARY DETERMINATION BY HIGH-

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VALUE DETAINEE INTERROGATION GROUP.—The

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high-value detainee interrogation group responsible

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for interrogating a high-value detainee under sub-

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section (b) shall make a preliminary determination

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whether or not the detainee is an unprivileged enemy

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belligerent. The interrogation group shall make such

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determination based on the result of its interroga-

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tion of the individual and on all intelligence informa-

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tion available to the interrogation group. The inter-

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rogation group shall, after consultation with the Di-

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March 4, 2010 (12:06 p.m.)

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ARM10090 S.L.C.

rector of National Intelligence, the Director of the

1

Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Director of

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the Central Intelligence Agency, submit such deter-

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mination to the Secretary of Defense and the Attor-

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ney General.

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(2) FINALDETERMINATION.—As soon as pos-

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sible after receipt of a preliminary determination of

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status with respect to a high-value detainee under

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paragraph (1), the Secretary of Defense and the At-

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torney General shall jointly submit to the President

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and to the appropriate committees of Congress a

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final determination whether or not the detainee is an

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unprivileged enemy belligerent for purposes of this

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Act. In the event of a disagreement between the Sec-

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retary of Defense and the Attorney General, the

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President shall make the final determination.

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(3) DEADLINEFORDETERMINATIONS.—All ac-

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tions required regarding a high-value detainee under

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this subsection shall, to the extent practicable, be

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completed not later than 48 hours after the detainee

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is placed in military custody under section 2.

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(d) REGULATIONS.—

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(1) INGENERAL.—The operations and activities

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of high-value detainee interrogation groups under

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this section shall be governed by such regulations

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March 4, 2010 (12:06 p.m.)

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ARM10090 S.L.C.

and guidance as the President shall establish for

1

purposes of implementing this section. The regula-

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tions shall specify the officer or officers of the Exec-

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utive Branch responsible for determining whether an

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individual placed in military custody under section 2

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meets the criteria for treatment as a high-value de-

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tainee for purposes of interrogation and determina-

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tion of status by a high-value interrogation group

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under this section.

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(2) CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATIONOF INDIVID-

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UALSASHIGH-VALUEDETAINEES.—The regulations

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required by this subsection shall include criteria for

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designating an individual as a high-value detainee

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based on the following:

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(A) The potential threat the individual

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poses for an attack on civilians or civilian facili-

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ties within the United States or upon United

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States citizens or United States civilian facili-

18

ties abroad at the time of capture or when com-

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ing under the custody or control of the United

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States.

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(B) The potential threat the individual

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poses to United States military personnel or

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United States military facilities at the time of

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ARM10090 S.L.C.

capture or when coming under the custody or

1

control of the United States.

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(C) The potential intelligence value of the

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individual.

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(D) Membership in al Qaeda or in a ter-

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rorist group affiliated with al Qaeda.

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(E) Such other matters as the President

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considers appropriate.

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(3) PARAMOUNT PURPOSE OF INTERROGA-

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TIONS.—The regulations required by this subsection

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shall provide that the paramount purpose of the in-

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terrogation of high-value detainees under this Act

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shall be the protection of United States civilians and

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United States civilian facilities through thorough

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and professional interrogation for intelligence pur-

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poses.

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(4) SUBMITTALTOCONGRESS.—The President

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shall submit the regulations and guidance required

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by this subsection to the appropriate committees of

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Congress not later than 60 days after the date of

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the enactment of this Act.

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SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON PROSECUTION OF ALIEN

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UNPRIVILEGED ENEMY BELLIGERENTS.

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(a) LIMITATION.—No funds appropriated or other-

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wise made available to the Department of Justice may be

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March 4, 2010 (12:06 p.m.)

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ARM10090 S.L.C.

used to prosecute in an Article III court in the United

1

States, or in any territory or possession of the United

2

States, any alien who has been determined to be an

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unprivileged enemy belligerent under section 3(c)(2).

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(b) APPLICABILITY PENDING FINAL DETERMINA-

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TIONOFSTATUS.—While a final determination on the sta-

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tus of an alien high-value detainee is pending under sec-

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tion 3(c)(2), the alien shall be treated as an unprivileged

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enemy belligerent for purposes of subsection (a).

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SEC. 5. DETENTION WITHOUT TRIAL OF UNPRIVILEGED

10 ENEMY BELLIGERENTS.

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An individual, including a citizen of the United

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States, determined to be an unprivileged enemy belligerent

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under section 3(c)(2) in a manner which satisfies Article

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5 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of

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Prisoners of War may be detained without criminal

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charges and without trial for the duration of hostilities

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against the United States or its coalition partners in which

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the individual has engaged, or which the individual has

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purposely and materially supported, consistent with the

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law of war and any authorization for the use of 9

ARM10090 S.L.C.

used to prosecute in an Article III court in the United

1

States, or in any territory or possession of the United

2

States, any alien who has been determined to be an

3

unprivileged enemy belligerent under section 3(c)(2).

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(b) APPLICABILITY PENDING FINAL DETERMINA-

5

TIONOFSTATUS.—While a final determination on the sta-

6

tus of an alien high-value detainee is pending under sec-

7

tion 3(c)(2), the alien shall be treated as an unprivileged

8

enemy belligerent for purposes of subsection (a).


ARM10090 S.L.C.

(1) ACTOFTERRORISM.—The term ‘‘act of ter-

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rorism’’ means an act of terrorism as that term is

2

defined in section 101(16) of the Homeland Security

3

Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101(16)).

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(2) ALIEN.—The term ‘‘alien’’ means an indi-

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vidual who is not a citizen of the United States.

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(3) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON-

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GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-

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gress’’ means—

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(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the

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Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-

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mental Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary,

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and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the

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Senate; and

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(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the

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Committee on Homeland Security, the Com-

16

mittee on the Judiciary, and the Permanent Se-

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lect Committee on Intelligence of the House of

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Representatives.

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(4) ARTICLEIII COURT.—The term ‘‘Article III

20

court’’ means a court of the United States estab-

21

lished under Article III of the Constitution of the

22

United States.

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(5) COALITIONPARTNER.—The term ‘‘coalition

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partner’’, with respect to hostilities engaged in by

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March 4, 2010 (12:06 p.m.)

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ARM10090 S.L.C.

the United States, means any State or armed force

1

directly engaged along with the United States in

2

such hostilities or providing direct operational sup-

3

port to the United States in connection with such

4

hostilities.

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(6) GENEVA CONVENTION RELATIVE TO THE

6

TREATMENT OF PRISONERS OF WAR.—The term

7

‘‘Geneva Convention Relative to the Treatment of

8

Prisoners of War’’ means the Geneva Convention

9

Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, done

10

at Geneva August 12, 1949 (6 UST 3316).

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(7) HOSTILITIES.—The term ‘‘hostilities’’

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means any conflict subject to the laws of war, and

13

includes a deliberate attack upon civilians and civil-

14

ian targets protected by the laws of war.

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(8) PRIVILEGED BELLIGERENT.—The term

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‘‘privileged belligerent’’ means an individual belong-

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ing to one of the eight categories enumerated in Ar-

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ticle 4 of the Geneva Convention Relative to the

19

Treatment of Prisoners of War.

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(9) UNPRIVILEGED ENEMY BELLIGERENT.—

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The term ‘‘unprivileged enemy belligerent’’ means an

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individual (other than a privileged belligerent) who—

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(A) has engaged in hostilities against the

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United States or its coalition partners;

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March 4, 2010 (12:06 p.m.)

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(B) has purposely and materially sup-

1

ported hostilities against the United States or

2

its coalition partners; or

3

(C) was a part of al Qaeda at the time of

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capture.

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SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

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This Act shall take effect on the date of the enact-

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ment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to individ-

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uals who are captured or otherwise come into the custody

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or under the effective control of the United States on or

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after that date.

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March 4, 2010 (12:06 p.m.)


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