If we capture an American citizen as part of this cell and we can't hold them as an enemy combatant for intelligence-gathering purposes, does domestic criminal law allow us to hold someone for an indefinite period of time to gather…

My good friend from Connecticut is aware there is a proposal pending on the floor of the Senate that would say, for the first time in American history, if a U.S. citizen decides to collaborate with an enemy, they cannot be held as an enemy…

Does the Senator agree with me that if this Congress chose to change the law and say that an American citizen who has associated himself with al-Qaida cannot be interrogated for intelligence-gathering purposes, we would be less safe?

Does the Senator agree with me that his amendment that says you can be acquitted but still be held as an enemy prisoner is consistent with the law today?

If I may, I find the discussion fascinating. May I enter into the colloquy? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Subject to the previous order, the Senator is welcome to join the colloquy.

Does the Senator agree with me that we gathered good intelligence over time from people held at Guantanamo Bay?

I thank the Chair. As I understand it, the reason the Senator is having to do this is because President Obama, by Executive order, prevented the CIA and other agencies from using any enhanced interrogation techniques that have been…

If I may, let me ask another question. All of us agree we don't want to torture anybody. Waterboarding is not the way to get good intelligence. Not only is it not the right thing to do, it is just not the wise thing to do. But we believe…

I would like to do a colloquy with my good friend from Connecticut. Senator Lieberman said something that I think we need to sort of absorb. As the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, does the Senator believe the likelihood of…

I thank the Senator for offering this amendment. To my colleagues, we are trying to fight a war, not a crime, within the value systems of being the United States, being the champion of the free world. I do not believe in torturing people…

My point to my colleagues--and I enjoyed this discussion--is that if you take the ability to hold someone as an enemy combatant off the table, you cannot interrogate them for intelligence- gathering purposes, and if you put a time limit on…

Does my colleague also agree that in this war, we provide a due process unlike any other war in the past?

Does the Senator agree with me that every enemy combatant, citizen other otherwise, held at Guantanamo Bay or captured in the United States has their day in Federal court through habeas proceedings?

In our civilian law, we can hold people who are a danger to themselves or others without a trial but with judicial oversight; is that correct?

Would the Senator agree with me that it is very smart to evaluate whether we should allow someone to be let go and intelligence professionals should be able to make that decision as to whether the individual is a military threat, that that…

Does my colleague agree with me that the recidivism rate of people we are releasing from Guantanamo Bay has gone up?

I think that is important for us to understand. Does the Senator agree with me that when we look at the war on terror, the United States is part of the battlefield?

I claim time in opposition to the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from South Carolina is recognized for 5 minutes.