Military Commissions and Counterterrorism Operations

President Bush spoke to government officials and several family members of victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the U.S. about proposed legislation establishing a legal framework for the treatment and trials of suspected terrorists detained by U.S. authorities. In his remarks he acknowledged the existence of secret CIA detentions in foreign countries, saying that 14 high-level detainees with ties to al-Qaida would be transferred to the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to await trial by military commissions. He said that he also had sent legislation to Congress to approve new rules for the interrogation of detainees and eventual trial of suspected terrorists by military courts. He also denied ever torturing or mistreating prisoners while in U.S. custody, but added that the proposed new rules would both define permissible techniques and exempt U.S. officials from prosecution for alleged past prisoner abuse. close