Posted on 12/15/2005 10:05:55 AM PST by jamese777
White House Agrees to McCain Torture Ban Move Comes After House and Senate Back Language By LIZ SIDOTI, AP
WASHINGTON (Dec. 15) - After months of resistance, the White House has agreed to accept Sen. John McCain's call for a law specifically banning cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of foreign suspects in the war on terror, several congressional officials said Thursday.
The congressional officials spoke on condition of anonymity, saying they did not want to pre-empt an expected announcement later in the day at the White House, possibly by President Bush and McCain.
These officials also cautioned the agreement was encountering opposition in the House from Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Wednesday, in a symbolic move, the House endorsed the Senate-passed ban. Approved 308-122, the procedural vote in the House puts political pressure on negotiators - but does not require them - to include the ban and another provision standardizing interrogation techniques used by U.S. troops in a final wartime military spending bill.
(Excerpt) Read more at articles.news.aol.com ...
McVAIN is a jerk. He only cares about himself. President Bush has such class to treat him with kindness like in this live talk, but McVAIN will get zero zip notta respect from me.................. sick sock puppet.
Is there any reason WHY this had to be addressed TODAY? We can't relish in our accomplishments in Iraq for one freeking day without having to cowtow to the dang left?
Hagel hasn't a clue what he is talking about regarding the GWOT (which includes Iraq) - The man is 110% wrong regarding his take on Iraq and the current war. And nothing he did 30 years ago means anything regarding this issue.
McCain's Torture Ban bill is bad policy (and the WH should not have went along). Again, regardless of what McCain (or Hagel or Kerry) or any of them did 30 years ago in Vietnam.
What they did or didn't do 30 years ago means nothing with regard to their thoughts on the current GWOT.
the white house has been doing a better job lately (finally), but not enough on this one apparently to get the votes it needs.
Spot on -
Does it at least give un an insight into their character and heart?
Bush Accepts McCain's Ban on Mistreatment
By LIZ SIDOTI
Associated Press WriterDecember 15, 2005, 2:58 PM EST
WASHINGTON -- President Bush reversed course on Thursday and accepted Sen. John McCain's call for a law banning cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of foreign suspects in the war on terror.
Bush said the agreement will "make it clear to the world that this government does not torture and that we adhere to the international convention of torture, whether it be here at home or abroad."
"It's a done deal," said McCain, talking to reporters in a driving rain outside the White House.
Under the deal, CIA interrogators would be given the same legal rights as currently guaranteed members of the military who are accused of breaking interrogation guidelines. Those rules say the accused can defend themselves by arguing it was reasonable for them to believe they were obeying a legal order.
"We've sent a message to the world that the United States is not like the terrorists," McCain said earlier as he sat next to Bush in the Oval Office.
The White House at one point threatened a veto if the ban was included in legislation sent to the president's desk, and Vice President Dick Cheney made an unusual personal appeal to all Republican senators to give an exemption to the CIA.
But congressional sentiment was overwhelmingly in favor of the ban, and McCain, a former Navy pilot who was held and tortured for five and a half years in Vietnam, adopted the issue.
Just to rephrase a very old, dimly recalled quote:
Mister McCain has his law.
Let him now enforce it.
No, because people can change greatly in 20-30 years -
Peoples motives and aspirations 30 years later can cloud their judgment along with adjusting their integrity.
Furthermore serving in a conflict 20-30 years ago gives one very little "expertise" regarding a current conflict today. Especially when the situations are night and day (regardless if Hagel can't let go of his past to see the truth).
Hagel and McCain both have very narcissistic personalities. In ways this could have served them well at times in the service (and in war)....however it doesn't serve them well (or our Nation) with them in their current roles.
I hate you, McCain. I hate what you've done to this country with your McCain-Feingold Bill. You ERASED EVERYTHING you did in Vietnam. Your name is TRAITOR. Go to hell, McCain.
Assw**e
Show me the treaty that defines torture as "degrading treatment" and we'll talk.
You provided a second link to the same AP article.
I want to see it in writing, the terms of the agreement.
McCain's amendment seems to stand as is.
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
December 15, 2005
President Meets with McCain & Warner, Discusses Position on Interrogation
The Oval Office
2:41 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: It's my honor to welcome two good friends, the Chairman, John Warner, and, of course, John McCain -- Senator John McCain, here to the Oval Office. We share a common goal, and that is to protect the American people and to win the war on terror.
Senator McCain has been a leader to make sure that the United States of America upholds the values of America as we fight and win this war on terror. And we've been happy to work with him to achieve a common objective, and that is to make it clear to the world that this government does not torture and that we adhere to the international convention of torture, whether it be here at home or abroad. And so we have worked very closely with the Senator and others to achieve that objective, as well as to provide protections for those who are on the front line of fighting the terrorists.
And so I appreciate your hard work, Senator. You're a good man who honors the values of America. I also appreciate the strong support that you've given -- both of you have given in the war on terror. The central front of that war is Iraq. Part of our strategy is to train Iraqis so they can join our forces and fight off the terrorists and, eventually, have the Iraqis be able to stand on their own. The other part is the democratic process that will help marginalize the Saddamists and the rejectionists.
And today, the Iraqi people went to the polls. I was so honored to welcome some young Iraqi Fulbright Scholars here that were able to vote, and to see the joy -- and to hear the joy they expressed and to see the joy on their faces after having just voted in a -- for a permanent government and a new constitution was just a fantastic experience.
And so I want to welcome you all to the Oval Office. Thanks for coming. Thanks for your good work on behalf of America.
SENATOR McCAIN: Thank you, Mr. President. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the effort that you made to resolve this very difficult issue. I thank you for your active participation in it. And I also want to thank your National Security Advisor, Steve Hadley, who played a very important role, as well. And I'm very pleased that we reached this agreement, and now we can move forward and make sure that the whole world knows that, as the President has stated many times, that we do not practice cruel, inhuman treatment or torture.
This agreement basically does two things: One, puts into the Army Field Manual the specific procedures for interrogations. And two, it prohibits cruel, inhumane -- or torture.
In our negotiations, there was legitimate concerns raised by the administration concerning the rights of interrogators. And taking language from the Uniform Code of Military Justice, we provide them with legal counsel and certain protections that a reasonable person might view as carrying out of orders, not to contradict the Nuremberg decision, which, of course, said that obeying orders is not a sufficient defense.
I, again, thank the President. And I would like to also repeat, we've sent a message to the world that the United States is not like the terrorists. We have no grief for them, but what we are is a nation that upholds values and standards of behavior and treatment of all people, no matter how evil or bad they are. And I think that this will help us enormously in winning the war for the hearts and minds of people throughout the world in the war on terror.
And again, I want to thank the President; I want to thank Steve Hadley; I thank all the people who worked so hard to come to this agreement. Now I think we can move forward with winning the war on terror and in Iraq.
I thank you, Mr. President.
THE PRESIDENT: Thanks, John.
END 2:45 P.M. EST
Where is your sarc tag?
It is called the UN Convention Against Torture And Other Cruel, Inhuman, Or Degrading Treatment Or Punishment. The title might give a little away. The language in the Senate ratification is very similar to the McCain Amendment.
Here's a starting point:
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/h_cat39.htm
Okay, now we have an actual press conference so an agreement has taken place. Now we need to see what the agreement contains and who in congress supported it.
Those who want to go off half cocked need to find out the facts and not simply bash the president. We have a serious problem in Congress, we have way to many Republicans allowing the Democrats to call the shots.
Whats sarc tag?
Yeah, HAGEL is a HERO.
So is Mcain.
No he didn't.
He chose to let others go before him.
Hero.
Yeah!
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