Posted on 10/05/2005 8:08:18 PM PDT by FairOpinion
The Senate defied the White House yesterday and voted to set new limits on interrogating detainees in Iraq and elsewhere, underscoring Congress's growing concerns about reports of abuse of suspected terrorists and others in military custody.
Forty-six Republicans joined 43 Democrats and one independent in voting to define and limit interrogation techniques that U.S. troops may use against terrorism suspects, the latest sign that alarm over treatment of prisoners in the Middle East and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, is widespread in both parties. The White House had fought to prevent the restrictions, with Vice President Cheney visiting key Republicans in July and a spokesman yesterday repeating President Bush's threat to veto the larger bill that the language is now attached to -- a $440 billion military spending measure.
But last night, 89 senators sided with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who led the fight for the interrogation restrictions.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
NAYs ---9
Allard (R-CO)
Bond (R-MO)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Stevens (R-AK)
Thank you for posting this list. It looks like both of my Senators voted YES. I am distressed beyond words.
I see this as pro-US soldier. Right now there are no clear guidelines as to what they can and cannot do. Our troops are confused. This will clear it up so that there is less confusion.
"I don't think Bush is aware he even has Veto power."
Tell me about it. I read somewhere that he hadn't vetoed one spending bill.
I would like to see him veto it after it has set on his desk for the longest time period possible. That would give us time to remind our senators what is in their best interests. One of mine stood up, and one (Kay BH) fell down on the job.
Bull$hit.
The ONLY **ONLY** limit there should be is not putting a bullet in the guys head.
Who will win the war on terror?
We have the means, but not the will.
They have the will, but not the means.
Whoever get's what they lack first, will win.
That shouldn't be banned either. We're at war, for cryin' out loud! That's what you DO in war: Hurt, capture, kill the enemy! ...wherever they are found, whatever country they come from.
The military already has the necessary rules and structure to deal with this. Torture is already against the rules. It does not happen. It did not happen. It will not happen.
This is nothing other than the Senate's collective hubris and power hunger on display. They hated the negative press from Abu Ghraib, hysterically exaggerated as it was, so much that they'll gladly sell the country down the river to give the "nice guys" appearance.
It's sickening.
"Did they ask any actual soldiers who may not be clear on the rules what they thought? NO. This is insulting to the Military and our soldiers."
"McCain said military officers have implored Congress for guidelines................McCain cited a letter he received from Army Capt. Ian Fishback, who has fought in Afghanistan and Iraq. "Over 17 months, he struggled to get answers from his chain of command to a basic question: What standards apply to the treatment of enemy detainees?" McCain said. "But he found no answers. . . . The Congress has a responsibility to answer this call.""
Santorum voted yes.
Indicative that Pat Roberts voted against it....considering he is the Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee...which means, that HE more than any of the others, knows the dangers out there....and what WE don't know.
I'm calling Kay Bailey's office to give a piece of my mind. This is down right unforgivable, IMO.
We still can hope that the Republicans in the House will have more GUTS and take this out of the final bill!!!
COSPONSORS(4):
Sen Graham, Lindsey [SC] - 10/3/2005
Sen Hagel, Chuck [NE] - 10/3/2005
Sen Smith, Gordon H. [OR] - 10/3/2005
Sen Collins, Susan M. [ME] - 10/3/2005
The usual RINO clowns. These people need to be run out of Congress on a rail. Looking over that list of Senators near the top of the thread makes me realize just how many spineless Republicans we have in the Senate. I don't know how Bush gets anything passed through there (except I'm sure the spending bills have an easy time).
According the protections of the U.S. Constitution to terrorists worldwide. Unbelievable.
scumbags- all of them
I called Cornyn and Hutchison's office yesterday, because I was watching this on TV....and Warner and them were trying to slip this in under the radar....without a floor vote..
AND THEY STILL have managed to attach a bill, I think, with something like 100 amendments to it...and they won't be debated on the floor....so we won't know about any of them.
INTERESTINGLY, when all of the brou-haha started on the Senate floor about is amendment, that this article is about...Harry Reid came out and started having a HISSY-FIT....and said that this is "all about Katrina, and them no wanting an independent commission"...
Which was a total non-sequiter...and I still haven't figured out what that means...unless one of these secret amendments establishes a commission...
Also, Sen. Landrieu was up on the Senate floor until midnight last night complaining about not having enough $$$$$$$$$$$$ and wanting more, more, more!!!
nah we are better than having to put a bullet into someone's head. For prisoners, that becomes a release more than a threat anyway.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.