White House threatens veto over detainee policies

[maddezmom]

By Vicki Allen
15 minutes ago



WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday threatened to veto a massive Senate bill for $442 billion in next year's defense programs if it moves to regulate the Pentagon's treatment of detainees or sets up a commission to investigate operations at Guantanamo Bay prison and elsewhere.

The Bush administration, under fire for the indefinite detention of enemy combatants at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba and questions over whether its policies led to horrendous abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, put lawmakers on notice it did not want them legislating on the matter.

In a statement, the White House said such amendments would "interfere with the protection of Americans from terrorism by diverting resources from the war."

"If legislation is presented that would restrict the president's authority to protect Americans effectively from terrorist attack and bring terrorists to justice," the bill could be vetoed, the statement said.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050721/pl_nm/arms_congress_dc;_

[mike_c]

1. THIS is why John Roberts got the SC nomination....

He's Bush's bag man for POW abuse and pissing on the Geneva Conventions.

[enough]

5. Yep, they must be sleeping a little easier with the thought of

Roberts in the SCOTUS.

[The Stranger]

6. Abortion was never the issue. The Gitmo Concentration Camp is the issue.

This is a nightmare -- and a Neocon wet dream.

Even Joe Leiberman is all smiles today.

[Ezlivin]

2. Please protect us from what any investigation would uncover

I'm much more frightened at the criminals in government than those outside it.

If Bush's cabal had its way, we'd already be experiencing martial law. That's the only thing that could please these bastards.

[Supersedeas]

17. waive your Congressional oversight or I will shut down the Government

Call the Frat Boys Bluff

[democracyindanger]

3. "Authority" says it all.

They have the responsibility to protect Americans. But they see it as authority. They see it as power.

[meganmonkey]

4. That would be Bush's first veto, right?

How messed up. The first bill I find important enough to pull a veto on is to ensure that I can keep abusing (likely innocent) foreign prisoners without oversight.

That's fucking lovely.

:puke:

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

14. Yeah, he's always threatening to veto something

and rather than call him on it the Congress caves in.

No wonder he thinks he's God's Chosen One.

[melnjones]

7. I like John McCain.

May not agree with a lot of what he does, but I like the man, I really do.

[wli]

8. because he knows they'll find something objectionable

[Enraged_Ape]

9. I want my torture!!

Gimme it!!!

[bemildred]

10. Veto It! I like it! NO defense spending.

Yippee Ki Yay! Bring it ON!

[TahitiNut]

11. Amen!

[acmavm]

12. Seriously, bush** really thinks we all give a shit about what HE wants.

His wants and needs set the tone for everybody in this country. He really believes that shit. He is soooooooo delusional.

And the f****rs that are behind him are letting him think that it's him that's driving the policy issues. And of course pResident Batshit Crazy believes it. He really does believe he's our own little King George.

I can't wait until his ass is out of office. I know he'll never read the truth about what people really think about him and is 'Presidency'. But I sincerely hope that some day, in his old age, if he has anything left of that barely used organ between his ears, that someone tells him what an absolute failure and fraud he is/was.

[ncteechur]

13. Call that piece of shit's bluff. Let him veto the defense budget.

Betcha he won't. That labels the GOP as soft on defense.

[Miss Chybil]

15. What's wrong with having some oversight of what's being done in our name?

We are a country - not a gaggle of idiots. Besides, the last time I checked the government worked for us.

:eyes:

[bvar22]

16. Hitler, Pol Pot, and Stalin

didn't want the World to see what they were doing either.
Bush* is keeping good company!

If there are NO crimes being committed at these installations, bush*/Republicans would WELCOME transparency.
It wouldn't hurt the War on Terror, it would HELP by gaining the RESPECT of the World.

BLOCKING investigations and transparency is PROOF of their willing and knowing complicity in War Crimes.

[enough]

18. kick

[goforit]

19. Threaten threaten threaten......thats all they do....(WH alqueda)

[struggle4progress]

20. Why doesn't * support our troops? eom