Posted on 02/20/2008 1:55:25 PM PST by SmithL
Yellow Springs, Ohio (AP) -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain said President Bush should veto a measure that would bar the CIA from using waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods on terror suspects.
McCain voted against the bill, which would restrict the CIA to using only the 19 interrogation techniques listed in the Army field manual.
His vote was controversial because the manual prohibits waterboarding — a simulated drowning technique that McCain also opposes — yet McCain doesn't want the CIA bound by the manual and its prohibitions.
McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, is well-known for his opposition to waterboarding, which puts him at odds with the Bush administration.
"I knew I would be criticized for it," McCain told reporters Wednesday in Ohio. "I think I can show my record is clear. I said there should be additional techniques allowed to other agencies of government as long as they were not" torture.
"I was on the record as saying that they could use additional techniques as long as they were not cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment," McCain said. "So the vote was in keeping with my clear record of saying that they could have additional techniques, but those techniques could not violate" international rules against torture.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
‘I was against it before I was for it’. Maybe McCain should be waterboarded to find out what he really thinks.
Interesting.
McCain voted right on this. And his distinction is correct.
We should take this as a step to the right?
Part of McCain’s 10-step recovery program from advanced RINOism? Reachout to conservatives?
“Maybe McCain should be waterboarded to find out what he really thinks.”
I think he has more personal understanding of this topic than any of the other 99 Senators.
There’s a lot more in this bill than waterboarding. McCain’s objection is to the limitation of only 19 types of interrogation being allowed.
He should be fitted for a bigger pair of flip flops than Kerry wares.
“They call him Flipper, Flipper....”
The A.D.D public won;t have any time for Mccain’s nuance when they’ve got HOPE around the corner.
say goodnight.
I wish GW could veto McCain.
Well at least McCain was right on this.
We should take this as McCain voting with a blindfold.
First he was against it, then he’s for it. I don’t think he’ll ever be able to make up his mind.
He sunk himself with his "maverick and independent" stance.
The specifics of CIA interrogations techniques should not be the subject of public conversations among public officials, it should not be covered in any public law, the fact that such interrogations might take place at all should not be discussed in public, period.
McCain helped to make this a political issue. Once you’ve let the horse out of the barn the best you can do is shut up. There is no horse. There is no barn. We don’t use technique “x” in our interrogations because the agency in question is a “secret” agency. Whatever it does is classified, and that theoretically means “secret”.
The last thing anyone needs is to have morons prattling on in public about intel tools and methods.
Comparing something that physically limits you to something that may last half an hour is like comparing an apple to a moose.
Yellows Springs?!?!? That’s the Berkely of Ohio and home of Antioch College. I hope he made it to Young’s Dairy for some great ice cream.
Does the United States torture indiscriminately? Do we do it just for fun and the amusement of the guards? Are the methods we use even torture? Consider Zumwalt's argument. No, John, it is NOT the same as what happened to you in Vietnam or what happened for 444 days in Iran. If you cannot see the difference then you are either understandably unobjective, should recognize that, and recuse yourself, or you are unfit to be Commander in Chief, responsible for the defense of this Nation.
Whoa! I did not detect the flip-flop. I guess McCain followed my advice in advance! Way to go, John.
>>Yellow Springs, Ohio (AP) — Republican presidential candidate John McCain said President Bush should veto a measure that would bar the CIA from using waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods on terror suspects.<<
WTF? Surely even people who disagree with McCain about having torture be legal have to notice this is a flip flop.
Heck, being handcuffed and put in the back of a patrol car is degrading. Shall we prohibit that horrible treatment?
Totally agree. How the heck did photos from inside a military prison get out into public view ? Try taking a camera in a US state prison...
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