Detainee Policy
Another contentious issue in the 2012 defense authorization bill is U.S. detainee policy. The president has threatened to veto the bill over provisions that the White House says “micromanage the work of our experienced counterterrorism professionals, including our military commanders, intelligence professionals, seasoned counterterrorism prosecutors, or other operatives in the field.” The administration is concerned about language that would require members of al Qaeda and its affiliates to be held in military rather than civilian custody, even though the bill allows for a waiver on national security grounds. In particular, the administration opposes a provision requiring military custody for terrorists…
