DeKalb | President Bush confirmed Wednesday that the CIA was keeping suspected terrorists in secret prisons overseas. Worldwide reaction was immediate and vocal.

Bush also announced that since Sept. 11, 2001, a network of “black sites” have been operating outside the U.S., housing the highest ranking members of captured terror suspects.

“In a time of war, some kind of infringement of freedom is necessary and appropriate,” said State Rep. Bob Pritchard (R-Hickley). “Citizens expect governments to protect them.”

Bush described the program’s success: Multiple terrorists and plots had been thwarted from the information gained at these facilities because of it.

“This program has been, and remains, one of the most vital tools in our war against the terrorists,” Bush said. “It is invaluable to America and to our allies. Were it not for this program, our intelligence community believes that al-Qaida and its allies would have succeeded in launching another attack against the American homeland.”

Daniel Kempton, associate political science professor, said the guidelines for the war are unclear.

“If you conceive of this as a war, then such practices would not seem extraordinary in a wartime situation as long as the prisoners were treated in a manner in keeping with the requirements of the Geneva Convention,” Kempton said. “However, if you conceive of the war on terror as simply another form of crime, then such practices do appear highly unusual and as a violation of the rights of the prisoners.”

Knowledge of the secret prisons, however, did not shock most of the international community. Suspicions of such facilities have existed in the European Parliament and in the U.S. for several months. In Nov. 2005, the Washington Post reported such facilities existed in Europe. Over the past year, the European Parliament ran multiple investigations of the CIA over such claims.

As he revealed the use of secret prisons by the CIA, President Bush also announced new legislation sent to Congress. If passed, the legislation would allow the use of military tribunals for suspected terrorists.

Kempton applauded the President’s move.

“Not only are military personnel better trained to deal with terror trials,” Kempton said, “my assumption is that most everyday Americans would not want to accept the dangers that would accompany being asked to serve as a juror on trial of someone affiliated with al Qaeda.”

Jane Cummins is a City Reporter for the Northern Star.