It's About Time
Congress finally found the intestinal fortitude to confront the White House on the issue of torture. Yesterday the Senate passed a bill prohibiting the use of "harsh interrogation techniques," a euphemism I despise, and sent the measure to the President, who has already whipped out his trusty veto pen, according to this article in today's NY Times.
The Senate voted Wednesday to ban waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods that have been used by the Central Intelligence Agency against high-level terrorism suspects. The vote, following House passage of the measure in December, set up a confrontation with President Bush, who has threatened to veto it.
The ban would limit all American interrogators to techniques permitted in the Army Field Manual on Interrogation, which prohibits the use of physical force. It is part of a broader intelligence authorization bill, which cleared the Senate by 51 to 45, with 5 Republicans joining 45 Democrats and 1 independent in favor. [Emphasis added]
Sen. John McCain was not among the 5 Republicans who voted in favor of the bill. He believes that the CIA should have more leeway than the Army in interrogating detainees, although, oddly enough, he also believes that water boarding is torture, and therefore illegal. How he reconciles those two statements eludes me.
Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were too busy campaigning for the presidency to fulfill the duties of their present jobs by returning to Washington to vote.
Sen. Joe Lieberman voted with the Republicans. No surprise there.
So, what's next?
The White House again said Mr. Bush intended to veto the bill, on the ground that it would interfere with successful intelligence gathering. And Tony Fratto, a presidential spokesman, said that at least in the case of waterboarding, Democrats were criticizing a method that American interrogators no longer used.
While waterboarding is no longer used, the White House has made it clear that it just might be in the future. And the Attorney General has made it clear (sorta kinda) that it can be.
In other words, his Imperial Highness has determined that the Congressional bill is an intrusion on his sovereign powers, and of course must be vetoed.
340 days.
The Senate voted Wednesday to ban waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods that have been used by the Central Intelligence Agency against high-level terrorism suspects. The vote, following House passage of the measure in December, set up a confrontation with President Bush, who has threatened to veto it.
The ban would limit all American interrogators to techniques permitted in the Army Field Manual on Interrogation, which prohibits the use of physical force. It is part of a broader intelligence authorization bill, which cleared the Senate by 51 to 45, with 5 Republicans joining 45 Democrats and 1 independent in favor. [Emphasis added]
Sen. John McCain was not among the 5 Republicans who voted in favor of the bill. He believes that the CIA should have more leeway than the Army in interrogating detainees, although, oddly enough, he also believes that water boarding is torture, and therefore illegal. How he reconciles those two statements eludes me.
Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton were too busy campaigning for the presidency to fulfill the duties of their present jobs by returning to Washington to vote.
Sen. Joe Lieberman voted with the Republicans. No surprise there.
So, what's next?
The White House again said Mr. Bush intended to veto the bill, on the ground that it would interfere with successful intelligence gathering. And Tony Fratto, a presidential spokesman, said that at least in the case of waterboarding, Democrats were criticizing a method that American interrogators no longer used.
While waterboarding is no longer used, the White House has made it clear that it just might be in the future. And the Attorney General has made it clear (sorta kinda) that it can be.
In other words, his Imperial Highness has determined that the Congressional bill is an intrusion on his sovereign powers, and of course must be vetoed.
340 days.
Labels: Terra Terra Terra, The Unitary President, Torture
posted by Diane at 3:53 AM
2 Comments:
So the veto will be sustained and the congress will once again have done NOTHING but look tough. These folks are addicted to the veto. It relieves the angst of having to stand for something, or making a decision between their campaign donors and, heaven forbid, the citizenry.
Dave Broder, Bob Novak, and George Will are all competing for the coveted Wanker of The Day in today's WaPoo.
Shorter Traitor Bob: New Orleans is much nicer now that there aren’t so many poor coloreds living there. All my rich republican friends agree.
Shorter Dave Broder: Bipartisanship is when Republicans and Democrats come together to give Bush whatever he wants, and Donald Graham pays me to wank to it. Wank Wank Wank!
Shorter George Will: mumble mumble I HATE HILLARY mumble Why doesn’t everybody just vote for McCain? mumble zzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I believe it's traitor Bob, by a hair.
~
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