Wolfowitz given authority over military commissions.

(From Agence France Presse)

The Pentagon took another step toward trials of people detained in the US war on terrorism by naming US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz as the authority empowered to recommend that charges be referred to military commissions.

President George W. Bush has not yet ordered anyone to stand trial on terrorism charges before a military commission.

But the Pentagon said US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has issued an order making Wolfowitz the "appointing authority" responsible for appointing military commissions and deciding the charges to be brought in cases designated for trial by the president.

The US …