President Obama and senior advisers last month considered—and rejected—the notion that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the accused Christmas Day underpants bomber, should be handed over to the U.S. military for interrogation and detention, NEWSWEEK has learned. The subject of whether Abdulmutallab should be transferred to military custody came up at a meeting the president held in the White House Situation Room in early January, shortly before the Justice Department announced it would proceed against him in the civilian court system, according to little-noticed statements made by one or more "senior administration officials" who gave a background briefing to White House reporters...