Rob Andrews: “everyone who has spoken in this debate on both sides I think shares a deeply held conviction that they want terrorists…”

“everyone who has spoken in this debate on both sides I think shares a deeply held conviction that they want terrorists who would threaten this country prosecuted, convicted and punished. Because I believe the commencement of those prosecutions is imperative for the future of the country, I will support this bill. I will do so, however, with two severe reservations which I would hope would be dealt with by the other body and in conference. The first has to do with the issue of habeas corpus, which is a complicated word, but in this context, here is what it means: As I read this bill there is a risk that a suspected terrorist could be held for an indefinite period of time without recourse to any decisionmaker outside of the executive branch. The constitutionally of this is ambiguous. But the wisdom of it I think is clear. It is not very wise. I think revisiting this provision as the bill goes forward would assure the constitutionality of the bill and its compliance with the Geneva Conventions. Secondly, I am concerned about the fact that there has been an insufficient procedure for us to consider this bill.”