WASHINGTON — Senators compromised Thursday on a bill that attempts to spell out the military’s right to detain Americans indefinitely, killing a bid to bar the practice but passing an amendment that says current laws on the matter stand.<\/p>\n
The provision in the National Defense Authorization Act aimed to codify a string of court cases and current anti-terrorism practices involved in the capture and treatment of terrorism suspects. It initially opened what opponents saw as the prospect of letting the military haul away any citizen about whom it had suspicions.<\/p>\n
The new amendment specifies that the current practices may not change, although it also says explicitly that the military can pursue Americans at home.<\/p>\n
“Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect existing law or authorities relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States,” says the compromise amendment, which passed 99 to 1.<\/p>\n