U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tweeted some advice for the Obama Administration in the wake of the arrest of the man believed to have planted bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday: Treat Dzhokhar A. Tsarnaev as an "enemy combatant."



Graham, tweeting after Tsarnaev was found hiding in a boat in a backyard in Watertown, Mass., said "intelligence gathering purposes" would be the reason to treat Tsarnaev as an enemy combatant, and that "the goal is to gather intelligence and protect our nation which is under threat from radical Islam."

Someone deemed an enemy combatant does not have a right to have counsel appointed nor would they be adjudicated under the American judicial system.

Later, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) joined Graham as they issued a statement posted on Facebook that read in part:



"Now that the suspect is in custody, the last thing we should want is for him to remain silent. It is absolutely vital the suspect be questioned for intelligence gathering purposes. We need to know about any possible future attacks which could take additional American lives. The least of our worries is a criminal trial which will likely be held years from now.



"Under the Law of War we can hold this suspect as a potential enemy combatant not entitled to Miranda warnings or the appointment of counsel. Our goal at this critical juncture should be to gather intelligence and protect our nation from further attacks.



"We remain under threat from radical Islam and we hope the Obama Administration will seriously consider the enemy combatant option.



"We will stand behind the Administration if they decide to hold this suspect as an enemy combatant."

No word from the White House on Graham's suggestion, but President Obama has long opposed holding high-profile terrorist captures under military law.

If captured, I hope Administration will at least consider holding the Boston suspect as enemy combatant for intelligence gathering purposes. — Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog) April 19, 2013

Following Tsarnaey's capture, Graham tweeted: