Posted on 09/28/2006 8:54:10 AM PDT by MNJohnnie
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1709588/posts?page=1
House passes detainee bill
Republicans pushed a bill supported by President George W. Bush to set rules for interrogating and trying terrorism suspects through the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday and Senate Republicans were expected to follow within a day.
The House passed the bill 253-168 largely along party lines, dismissing warnings from Democrats that courts would strike down the plan for failing to meet judicial standards.
Republicans who control both chambers want to send the bill to Bush by the weekend, when lawmakers head out to campaign for November elections that will determine control of Congress.
The bill sets up procedures to try foreign terrorism suspects at the U.S. prison camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Supreme Court struck down Bush's original plan, saying it violated U.S. and international standards.
As Senate debate on the bill got under way, Republicans defeated an attempt to pass an alternative that Democrats said would meet Supreme Court standards and help restore America's image, damaged by harsh treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay and abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
The Senate was expected to pass the bill on Thursday, after considering several other amendments.
Republicans, seeking to polish their terrorism-fighting credentials in the final days of their campaigns, depicted the new rules as tough but fair.
"By formally establishing terrorist tribunals, the bill provides a critical tool in fighting the war on terror and it provides a measure of justice to the victims of 9/11," said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Tennessee Republican.
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, said the bill provides "basic fairness in our prosecutions but we also preserve the ability of our war fighters to operate effectively on the battlefield."
But Human rights groups and many Democrats said the deal gave Bush too much latitude to allow harsh interrogations and to deprive detainees of legal rights.
Rep. Ellen Tauscher, a California Democrat, said agreeing to "such an ambiguous compromise would allow the president to define torture when and how he sees fit."
Rep. Louise Slaughter, a New York Democrat, said the bill sends a signal that "America's leaders are willing to abandon our values ... in favor of thuggish tactics they hope might make them safer for a little while."
Democrats also predicted the courts would find the bill unconstitutional because it deprived detainees held without charges of the right to file legal challenges to their imprisonment.
Under a compromise worked out last week, the CIA will be able to continue aggressive interrogations, but supporters of the bill said agency interrogators would comply with the Geneva Conventions' requirement for humane treatment.
The bill also expands the definition of "enemy combatants," who can be held indefinitely without charges, to include those who knowingly support terrorist groups with arms, money and other activities.
Backers of the bill said that provision would choke off supplies to terrorist groups, but critics said it was too broad and could subject many more people to indefinite detention.
I used to like her, thenshe changed her hair.
LOL...you know, anything is possible in this Brave New World...of journalistic treason, political treachery, tabloid sensationalism and staged reality shows...
Jimmy..... Cartttttttttter! I bought a house while you were stinking president 17% interest rate!
You mr. carterrrrrrrrrrr are a joke!
ugh
PeLOOSie ain't helping my head, Rush....
the IDIOT!
she needs to talk to the her FRIENDS (our ENEMY) about THEIR GOLDEN RULES!
FRICKIN' TREASONOUS _ITHC!
I can't stand Racheal Ray either.
I had enough of her also. I like Ina Garten she cooks great food.
I haven't gotten Rush yet...what handshake are you talking about?
Same here. Slide all the way to the right then scroll down to Rush link. KFI is best.
http://streamingradioguide.com/radio-shows-on-air.php
I wish Rush would remember this use to be a family oriented type show now I have to squrim through those sophmoric locker room stories phrase Rush is going through, I hope it is phrase!
Gee Rush please omit this from your Excellent in Broastcasting!
I am pop culture and any goes to death!
thank you!
You ar so kind!
appreciate it!
War? War is not allowed unless you are covering up for molesting an intern.
Nancy Pelosi citing the Golden Rule is the most absurd thing I've ever heard out of that hypocrite's mouth.
Musharef and Kharzai....they did shake hands.
Question.. Since when does non citizens have any constituional rights?????
It's Pelosi! She really just doesn't care!
"Jimmy..... Cartttttttttter! I bought a house while you were stinking president 17% interest rate! "
Ouch, that's gotta hurt. Can't fathom a 17% rate today.
Who cares... We need to lost the House and Senate so we could win by losing.... /s
Don't I know it.
Do you know how to "relax?"
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