We need a third party.
Oh cripes.
I'll wait for the whole story.
"You are either with us, or against us...but we'll compromise if you're undecided."
#*!&@#*$&@&#!!!!!!
I just pray that the House grows a pair and keeps this crap out of any conference report.
White House near deal on anti-torture measure
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Under bipartisan pressure to put into law a ban on the torture of detainees, the White House appeared on the verge of a deal on Thursday with Sen. John McCain on a measure requiring the humane treatment of prisoners in U.S. custody, administration officials said.
"We're about there," said an administration official familiar with the negotiations. "They're close but I can't say it's done," said another official.
In a final push for a deal, the chairmen of two Senate and House of Representatives committees were set to meet to work out final details of the legislation, a Senate aide said.
bttt
W's aversion to the veto sometimes reminds me of Maclain Stevenson on the old Mash series:
"What am I signing Radar"? - "Don't worry sir, just sign your name here..."
("What's this "campaign finance bill about radar?" - "Don't worry Sir, the Supremes will just toss it out anyway, just sign it....")
No more torture? - Does this mean we will never hear or see McCain again? Then I may be for it.
There is a cancer on the Republican party and its name is John McCain.
Why did the WH do this?
The legal term of torture means to cause bodily organ failure and is already illegal. As well, I've never seen ANYTHING to suggest we engage in that type of torture.
The "new" definitions seem to include things like humiliation and uncomfortable positions like standing for a long time.
I'm stunned.
This doesn't have to be a bad thing. As much as we'd like to see these beasts tortured thoroughly, I think it's worthwhile to show the world that the US still expects its soldiers to maintain their humanity.
It also says that we believe our way is the best way, and we don't have to stoop to ugly methods to maintain our freedoms.
Finally, for the serious people working for us in the field, these new standards won't prevent them from doing their jobs. Those guys usually don't work with an audience, anyway. It's really not a bad thing that the US goes on record saying that we don't accept torture as a policy.
He's still doing the 'stupid-pills'...
AAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHhhhhhh! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
I think that the operative phrase here is "in US custody". This does not preclude the "rendition" procedure of sending them to their "home" country, or other "interested" countries for a "high pressure interview". The terrorists would be accorded Gitmo style treatment, until they are turned over to their fellow countrymen. That may be the backdoor "deal" with McCain: he and his ilk lay off the Congressional "investigations", in exchange for a deal that effectively gets US personnel completely out of the "torture" loop.
FoxNews radio reporting that White House is saying No Deal has been reached on this Bill.
I'll believe it when I read the exact thing the White House agreed to. Until then it's just MSM spin.
Action under S.1042
The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006.
S.AMND.1556 relates to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of persons under the custody or control of the United States Government.
S.AMND.1557 relates to uniform standards for the interrogation of persons under the detention of the Department of Defense.
S.AMND.2425 relates to both, "cruel treatment" and "uniform standards for interrogation."
S.AMND.1556 Proposed 07/25, Considered 07/26, Withdrawn 11/04
S.AMND.1557 Proposed 07/25, Considered 07/26, Withdrawn 11/04
S.AMND.2425 Proposed 11/04, Considered 11/04, Passed 11/04 on a voice vote.
Action under H.R.2863
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006.
S.AMND.1977 relates to both, "cruel treatment" and "uniform standards for interrogation."
S.AMND.1977 Proposed 10/05, considered 10/05, Passed 10/05 : 90-9 / Roll Call Vote No. 249
SEC. 1073. UNIFORM STANDARDS FOR THE INTERROGATION OF PERSONS
UNDER THE DETENTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE.
(a) In General.--No person in the custody or under the
effective control of the Department of Defense or under
detention in a Department of Defense facility shall be
subject to any treatment or technique of interrogation not
authorized by and listed in the United States Army Field
Manual on Intelligence Interrogation.
(b) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to with
respect to any person in the custody or under the effective
control of the Department of Defense pursuant to a criminal
law or immigration law of the United States.
(c) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to affect the rights under the United States
Constitution of any person in the custody or under the
physical jurisdiction of the United States.
SEC. 1074. PROHIBITION ON CRUEL, INHUMAN, OR DEGRADING
TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT OF PERSONS UNDER
CUSTODY OR CONTROL OF THE UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT.
(a) In General.--No individual in the custody or under the
physical control of the United States Government, regardless
of nationality or physical location, shall be subject to
cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment.
(b) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to impose any geographical limitation on the
applicability of the prohibition against cruel, inhuman, or
degrading treatment or punishment under this section.
(c) Limitation on Supersedure.--The provisions of this
section shall not be superseded, except by a provision of law
enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act which
specifically repeals, modifies, or supersedes the provisions
of this section.
(d) Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Defined.--In this section, the term ``cruel, inhuman, or
degrading treatment or punishment'' means the cruel, unusual,
and inhumane treatment or punishment prohibited by the Fifth,
Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the
United States, as defined in the United States Reservations,
Declarations and Understandings to the United Nations
Convention Against Torture and Other Forms of Cruel, Inhuman
or Degrading Treatment or Punishment done at New York,
December 10, 1984.