Bush says Gitmo ruling may prompt new law

updated 2:42 p.m. ET June 12, 2008

ROME - President Bush said Thursday in Rome that he strongly disagreed with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that clears foreign terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay to challenge their detention in American civilian courts.

Bush suggested new legislation may now be needed to keep the American people safe.

"We'll abide by the court's decision," Bush said during a news conference in Rome. "That doesn't mean I have to agree with it."

In its third rebuke of the Bush administration's treatment of prisoners, the court ruled 5-4 that the government is violating the rights of prisoners being held indefinitely and without charges at the U.S. naval base in Cuba. The court's liberal justices were in the majority.

"It was a deeply divided court, and I strongly agree with those who dissented," Bush said. "And that dissent was based upon their serious concerns about U.S. national security."

Bush said his administration will study the ruling. "We'll do this with this in mind — to determine whether or not additional legislation might be appropriate so we can safely say to the American people, 'We're doing everything we can to protect you.'"

Farewell tour of Europe
The president, meeting with allies in a farewell tour of Europe, was reminded again that his time in office is fleeting.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, 71, was asked which U.S. president he would like to see next — Sen. John McCain of Arizona or Democratic Sen. Barack Obama.

"I suppose I could express my own personal preference for one of the candidates, the Republican candidate," Berlusconi said. "And this is for a very selfish reason, and that is that I would no longer be the oldest person at the upcoming G-8 (meeting) because McCain is a month older than me."

Earlier in the day, Bush was greeted in Rome by anti-war activists and hundreds of other demonstrators, who marched through the streets of the Italian capital.

Commercial flights have been banned over Rome during Bush's two-day stay, which includes a visit with the pope on Friday.

Dozens of buses and trams have been rerouted. Thousands of policemen have been deployed as part of a tight security plan to monitor any further protests, though Wednesday's march drew far fewer demonstrators than previous visits by Bush.

Slovenia and Germany, the first two stops on Bush's trip, were devoid of demonstrators. One activist group in Germany that had organized protests during previous Bush visits said they did not think this trip was not important enough because Bush has little time left in office.

The Rome protest, though smaller than past demonstrations, was evidence that the Italian public still opposes the Bush administration.

MORE FROM EUROPE

Europe Section Front

Obama lands in Ghana after meeting pope G-8 pledges $20 billion to poor farmers Gang leader receives life in prison for killing First Pamplona goring death since '95 Trying to bury the past, again and again U.K. police probe Gitmo detainee’s claims U.K. military deaths in Afghanistan top Iraq Freed journalist describes Iran jail Europe Section Front   Add Europe headlines to your news reader: