Kelly Ayotte: “our country continues to be at war with members of al-Qaida, enemy combatants who want to kill Americans and that is why…”

“our country continues to be at war with members of al-Qaida, enemy combatants who want to kill Americans and that is why Congress authorized the use of military force to combat these individuals. My amendment applies to the worst of the worst. It would prohibit the use of funds for fiscal year 2012 for the prosecution of enemy combatants in civilian article III courts. This prohibition would extend to members of al-Qaida or affiliated entities, and who have participated or carried out an attack against our country or our coalition partners. It does not apply to American citizens. These individuals, enemy combatants, are not common criminals who just robbed a liquor store. When we detain a member of al-Qaida who is planning an attack on our country, the priority has to be on gathering information to protect Americans. I have great respect for our civilian court system, but it was not set up to allow the time to interrogate members of al-Qaida. We should not be trying these individuals in our civilian system but in military commissions. We should not be providing these terrorists Miranda rights and speedy presentment rights that come with our civilian system. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator's time has expired. The Senator from Michigan.”