Washington, Lincoln and FDR all employed the use of military tribunals.

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Washington used them during the revolution. They were employed by the Union in the aftermath of the civil war. And FDR used them during WW2.

This is nothing new and its not anti-American.

The problem was that Bush's military tribunals for terrorist suspects were not allowing very many, if any, rights for the detainees.

Obama's tribunals, which incidentally will be used to try less than 20 of the 240 people we are detaining are including several serious changes to the Bush tribunal system. These changes include:

- Restrictions on hearsay evidence that can be used in court against the detainees.

- A ban on all evidence obtained through cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment. This would include statements given from detainees who were subjected to waterboarding, a form of simulated drowning.

- Giving detainees greater leeway in choosing their own military counsel.

- Protecting detainees who refuse to testify from legal sanctions or other court prejudices.

The use of a military tribunal was NEVER the problem. It was the deprivation of rights and fair protections that was the problem. That was what Obama criticized during the campaign and that is EXACTLY what he changed.

If you don't see how this is a HUGE change from the way Bush was handling the prosecution of suspected terrorists, then you are just looking for a reason to cry foul and you are ignoring facts, you are ignoring history and you are ignoring common sense.

We need to accept the fact that terrorists are REAL and that President Obama has an obligation to protect us from them. The difference is that he is actually doing his job without propping up the issue of terrorism as a propaganda tool to control people with fear. That simply is not what is happening.