THE SENATE EARLY TODAY REJECTED by a 47-52 vote a bid to cut off funding for civilian trials for suspected terrorists. The administration and Democratic leaders had opposed the amendment by Republican Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire to a spending bill for the Justice Department and other agencies.

EARLIER, AYOTTE TOLD US she’d keep trying to ensure suspected terrorists are kept in military custody, citing the risk that they would be acquitted in civilian courts, then set free. “Because we’re at war with [Al Qaeda] we have the authority to hold them under the law of war without bringing them to trial,” she said. “Actually the military system ensures that we don’t put American lives at risk.”

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