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Majority of Americans in favor of military tribunals for terror suspects

Jeff Winkler Contributor
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A majority of Americans are in favor of military tribunals for the terror suspects held at the Guantanamo Naval Base, according to a new survey.

A Rasmussen poll of likely voters released Tuesday found that 63 percent of respondents believe the Guantanamo Bay prisoners should face military tribunals. Just 23 percent said the terror suspects should be tried in civilian courts.

The poll shows an increase from previous surveys of Americans who support the use of military tribunals. In 2008, when military tribunals were first used at Gitmo, about half of those surveyed were in favor of military tribunals.

The survey may add another obstacle for Attorney General Eric Holder, who sent a letter to Senate leaders earlier this week urging them to reject a measure that would prevent the government from moving prisoners from Gitmo to U.S. prisons. Obama’s first pledge as president had been to close the terrorist detention facility.

The provision is part of a must-pass, $1 trillion spending bill. The House approved a nine-month ban on the transfer of Guantanamo inmates to the U.S. this past Wednesday, much to the ire of Holder.

A 46% plurality of those surveyed said they support such a ban on prisoner transfers to the United States, while 34 percent indicated they were opposed to such a ban.