Terror prosecution bill applies to few

WASHINGTON - Armed with Congress' blessing, President Bush soon can begin prosecuting terrorism suspects for killing or plotting to kill thousands of Americans.

But although the measure potentially applies to all 14,000 foreign detainees - most of whom are being held by the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan - it isn't expected to change the lives of many of them. That's largely because only a small fraction seem likely to face aggressive, prolonged interrogations or military trials - the rules for which the bill establishes.

Congress sent legislation to the president Friday that allows him to convene military commissions to prosecute terrorism suspects so long as he follows certain guidelines. The …