WASHINGTON

BUSH DEFENDS POLICY ON DETENTION OF TERRORIST SUSPECTS

President Bush vigorously defended American interrogation practices in the war on terror yesterday and lobbied against a congressional drive to outlaw torture.

“There’s an enemy that lurks and plots and plans and wants to hurt America again,” Mr. Bush said. “So you bet we will aggressively pursue them, but we will do so under the law.” He declared, “We do not torture.”

Over White House opposition, the Senate has passed legislation banning torture. With Vice President Cheney as the point man, the administration is seeking an exemption for the CIA.

– Associated Press

SUPREME COURT STEPS INTO DISPUTE OVER MILITARY TRIALS

The Supreme Court agreed yesterday to consider a challenge to the Bush administration’s military tribunals for foreign terror suspects, a major test of the government’s wartime powers and a case presenting the first conflict for new Chief Justice Roberts.

Justices will decide whether Osama bin Laden’s driver can be tried for war crimes before military officers in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Justice Roberts, as an appeals court judge, joined a summer ruling against Salim Ahmed Hamdan. He did not participate in yesterday’s action, which put him in the difficult situation of sitting in judgment of one of his own rulings. Lawyers for Hamdan were expected to ask Justice Roberts to participate in the case, to avoid a 4-4 tie.

– Associated Press

CHINA POLICY UNDER REVIEW

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom will release its Policy Focus on China this week, disclosing the findings of a two-week delegation visit to Red China and recommending alterations to America’s China policy in advance of a November 14 visit by President Bush to Chinese president Hu Jintao.

The 11-member commission, established in 1998 as part of the International Religious Freedom Act, traveled throughout China earlier this year and met with high-level Chinese officials and religious leaders. According to a statement from the commission’s chairman, Michael Cromartie, the USCIRF found that the Communist government “systematically violates the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief, contravening both the Chinese constitution and international human rights norms.”

The commission will present its findings and policy recommendations for strengthening America’s human-rights diplomacy with China tomorrow, at a press conference with the House minority leader, Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat of California, and Rep. Frank Wolf, a Republican of Virginia, in the Cannon House Office Building.

– Staff Reporter of the Sun

SOUTH

ESCAPED INMATE WAIVES EXTRADITION

HOUSTON – A condemned double murderer who escaped from jail by walking out in street clothes and was captured three days later waived his extradition hearing yesterday. Charles Victor Thompson, who was taken into custody Sunday night, made a video court appearance before state District Judge Ramona Emanuel in Shreveport yesterday. Authorities said he would be sent to Houston when the paperwork was completed.

His escape resulted from “multiple errors” by jail personnel, Harris County Sheriff’s lieutenant John Martin said. Thompson, 35, was convicted in 1999 for the shooting deaths a year earlier of his ex-girlfriend, Dennise Hayslip, 39, of Tomball, and her new boyfriend, Darren Keith Cain, 30, of nearby Spring. He was sentenced to death on October 28 and was being held in the county jail until he could be transferred to a prison in Livingston.

– Associated Press

LEGISLATURE OPENS SESSION ON STORM RECOVERY

BATON ROUGE, La. – State lawmakers yesterday considered ways to strengthen building codes and grappled with a billion-dollar hole in the state budget left by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It was the first full day of a special legislative session called by Governor Blanco to deal with the aftermath of the two storms.

The House budget committee began hearing testimony on various proposals to cut the deficit, caused by storm damage and the interruption of tax revenue caused that resulted when Katrina brought commerce in the New Orleans area to a standstill.

– Associated Press