The US government has recently removed the term ‘enemy combatant’ and incorporated international law as a basis for detaining terrorist suspects in Guantanamo prison, while working to close the installation of the military base in Cuba. The term ‘enemy combatant’ was coined by the government of George W. Bush to justify its war against terrorism and the detention of suspects without respecting international law.

The term ‘enemy combatant’ became a blanket description of practically all suspects that eventually entered Guantanamo. The top 15 Al Qaeda suspects earned the additional category of ‘platinum prisoners’ and were detained in what is said as the secret prison camp inside Guantanamo prisons, the mysterious Camp 7.

The US Department of Justice reported that from now on only those who have given ‘substantial’ support to Al Qaeda or Taliban rebels will be arrested. Unlike the Bush administration, which sought to greatly expand presidential powers during his tenure, the new detention policy does not depend on the US president’s powers as commander in chief to detain terrorist suspects at Guantanamo.

Hundreds of suspected terrorists have suffered grueling interrogation tactics at Guantanamo, calling attention to international human rights advocacy groups, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross. After many years of detention center operations, no solid case against alleged terrorists has yet been closed.

The US Justice Department said that the government is reviewing Obama’s policy of detention. The part of its plan to close down the Guantanamo prison may cause further changes in legislation.

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Via CNN