Neal A. Richardson and Spencer J. Crona

Neal A. Richardson is a deputy district attorney in Denver. Spencer J. Crona, a former newspaper editor and reporter, is a lawyer in Colorado. In the following viewpoint, they argue that terrorists are waging an illegal war by targeting civilians and noncombatants. Their actions make them illegal combatants, so they may be treated as spies or war criminals rather than prisoners of war. These enemies should be tried by military tribunals, which are more concerned with protecting national security than the terrorists’ civil rights.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. What makes an enemy an “illegal combatant,” according to the U.S. Supreme Court?
2. According to the authors, who comprises a military commission?
3. Why do Richardson and Crona support a sure and swift...