National Security Law Commons^™

Combatant Status Review Tribunals And The Unique Nature Of The War On Terror, Robert A. Peal

Vanderbilt Law Review

On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States, killing 2,973 innocent civilians. This was the largest loss of life on U.S. soil due to a hostile act in the nation's history. Al Qaeda, an international terrorist organization, claimed responsibility for the act. Al Qaeda had been systematically targeting U.S. civilians and service members for at least the previous nine years. In response to the attacks, the United States conducted a series of military and legal actions that were highly controversial and unprecedented. As part of these actions, the executive branch claimed the authority to detain indefinitely individuals it labeled …