A smart Senate guy, who's with us on this (and much more), tells me:
This thing isn’t perfect, and it’s not everything we wanted. I think that careful analysis will irritate some people because we didn’t get everything. But it’s a win on two levels:
Policy: The President believes that this framework will allow the interrogation program to keep going
Politics: The dems have been silent on this issue except to say “I’m with McCain.” Now they are in a bind.
Well nothing is ever perfect, but I have to think that the things that were "dropped" wouldn't have been if Bush and the administration couldn't live with it. Again, I wonder if some things weren't put in, as bait to later be dropped to create the appearance of "compromise". Or maybe I'm just devious. :) That's what I'd do. Pad it with things you know the opposition won't go for, and then drop it, secretly having no intention to go for it in the first place, thereby appearing to "compromise" on some things. :) It's still a big win, McCain gets put in his place, and the Democrats have once again picked a horse that didn't cross the line. :)
Bush's Statement:
I want to thank the members of the United States Senate for working with my administration to meet our top legislative priority, and that is a law that will help us crack the terror network and to save American lives.
I had a single test for the pending legislation, and that's this: Would the CIA operators tell me whether they could go forward with the program, that is a program to question detainees to be able to get information to protect the American people. I'm pleased to say that this agreement preserves the most single — most potent tool we have in protecting America and foiling terrorist attacks, and that is the CIA program to question the world's most dangerous terrorists and to get their secrets.
The measure also creates military commissions that will bring these ruthless killers to justice. In short, the agreement clears the way to do what the American people expect us to do, to capture terrorists, to detain terrorists, to question terrorists, and then to try them. I hope the Congress will send me legislation before it wraps up their business next week.
Thank you.