Bush pushes Congress to pass plan for detainee trials

WASHINGTON -- President Bush pressed Congress on Saturday to approve his plan for prosecuting suspected terrorists, a proposal lawmakers could debate as early as next week.

"As soon as Congress acts to authorize these military commissions, we will prosecute these men and send a clear message to those who kill Americans: No matter how long it takes, we will find you and bring you to justice," Bush said in his weekly radio address. "As we bring terrorists to justice, we're acting to secure the homeland."

The radio address marked the fourth time this week that Bush has delivered a message about the war on terror. The series of speeches gave Bush an opportunity to buttress the GOP's national security credentials just two months before the critical congressional elections Nov. 7.

Bush wants Congress to support new legislation the White House drafted for prosecuting suspected terrorists for war crimes. A new plan was needed after the Supreme Court ruled in June that an earlier plan violated U.S. and international law.

Senate leaders back the plan. But some Republicans support alternative legislatio.

Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has placed the White House proposal on the Senate calendar, allowing debate to begin as early as Tuesday, the day after the nation remembers the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The president's new plan for trying detainees would authorize the defense secretary to convene military tribunals to prosecute terrorism suspects and omit rights common in military and civil courts, such as the defendant's right to access all evidence and a ban on coerced testimony.