Wednesday, February 6, 2008

McCain not comfortable with Pentagon trying terror suspect

Reason number 1,023 why conservatives are not crazy about John McCain.


GUANTANAMO BAY–A U.S. senator who backed the military law under which Toronto detainee Omar Khadr is charged has told the Wall Street Journal that he is "not comfortable" with the Pentagon trying a minor.

Khadr was 15 when captured in Afghanistan following a firefight with U.S. Special Forces. He's charged with five war crimes including murder for the death of Delta Force soldier and medic Christopher Speer.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a principal backer of the 2006 Military Commissions Act, said while he supports military justice for suspected terrorists he leans against trying juvenile offenders.

"I'm not comfortable on an issue like this with minors," Graham told a Wall Street Journal reporter on board Arizona Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign plane.

When asked about his position on the issue McCain didn't answer directly but said "I do rely on Lindsey to a large degree," regarding detainee issues.

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