WP: McCain Names Interrogation Practices Detainee Bill Would Bar

[DeepModem Mom]

McCain Names Practices Detainee Bill Would Bar
Senator Says 3 Interrogation Methods Are Among the 'Extreme Measures' the Plan Would Outlaw
By R. Jeffrey Smith
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 25, 2006; Page A05

A Republican senator who played a leading role in drafting new rules for U.S. interrogations of terrorism suspects said yesterday that he believes a compromise bill embraced by party leaders and the White House will bar some of the most extreme techniques said to have been used by the CIA.

Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) named three measures that he said would no longer be allowed under a provision barring techniques that cause serious mental or physical suffering by U.S. detainees: extreme sleep deprivation, forced hypothermia and "waterboarding," which simulates drowning. He also said other "extreme measures" would be banned.

McCain's remarks were unusual because public officials involved in the lengthy public debate about U.S. interrogation practices have rarely made specific references to the CIA's actions. Instead, they have made general claims about the need for rough interrogations or a desire to stop abusive behavior.

"It's clear we have to have the high moral ground," said McCain, a former POW tortured by prison guards in Vietnam, on CBS's "Face the Nation." "I am confident that some of the abuses that were reportedly committed in the past will be prohibited in the future."

McCain spoke after officials of Human Rights Watch and others pressed him to spell out ways in which the controversial draft legislation would constrain the CIA's actions. The bill, introduced in the Senate on Friday, does not mention specific interrogation methods, causing some experts to say it would leave room for abuses....McCain, Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and their staffs were heavily involved in drafting the bill's language, so McCain's reading of it may carry weight in any court battle over its meaning. Aides said he did not clear his remarks with the Bush administration in advance, and spokesmen for the CIA and the White House declined to say yesterday whether they accept McCain's conclusions....

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/24/AR2006092400952.html

[OneBlueSky]

1. he's FOS . . . that's his interpretation, not what the bill says . . .

besides, Bush will undoubtedly issue a signing statement claiming absolute power to interpret the legislation any way he damn well pleases . . .

and absolute power corrupts . . . absolutely . . .

[Garbo 2004]

2. Well let's not have Congress vote on the bill until all the "allowed"

techniques are first practiced on all of them. Then let's see how chipper they are about "legalizing" such practices.

[xxqqqzme]

3. sorry john, I don't believe your lying rethuglican ass.

YOU say prohibit; pass legislation legalizing torture and awol, coke-head, frat boy attaches a signing statement telling all of you to go to hell, he's doing what he wants. Whadda you gonna do then???? I'm waiting, because you see, no senator of mis-representative has challenged awol, coke-head, frat boy's power grab.


BULLSHIT, john, bullshit!

If there was ever a time for a mass march on DC, THIS is the time.
legalize torture? NOT IN MY NAME you don't and it is time they all heard from all of us.

[bklyncowgirl]

8. John "Charlie Brown" McCain.

You make your great stand on principle, Senator, and everyone applauded your courage but you cut a deal for the sake of party unity and all of your principles will count for nothing.

You can say waterboarding is banned until the cows come home but in the end the Decider will decide what is allowed and what is not.

He's about to pull the football away from you again, Senator, and you will have to grin and bear it while you're flat on your ass.

That frat boy who was knocking back beers and shoving coke up his nose while you were hanging by your thumbs in a North Vietnamese prison cell has gotten the better of you again.

[philosophie_en_rose]

4. "I'm sure that SOME of the abuses . . . will be prohibited."

:eyes:

Some moral high ground.

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Huh? Has He Seen The Signing Statement?

Unless he's seen Bush's "signing statement", he has utterly no idea of what the rules say. Bush's signing statement might say "of course, under Article 2 of the Constitution, I understand this legislation to mean that all rotweillers must wear purple spandex while disembowling prisoners", and that becomes the effective law of the land.

These signing statements are amazing - why the fuck isn't Congress doing something about them? Why aren't we taking to the streets? We now live in a dictatorship.

[az chela]

6. At this point taking to the streets is the only answer

[Stinkfoot]

7. McCain has lost his Credibility

I have had a lot of respect for McCain because of his war record, and I had my respect revived when he initially took his stand against torture. Now I am afraid he is either dissembling or engaging in self-deception. What makes him trust Bush to stop torture, when he denies doing it? His political ambitions are leading him to turn away from the only honorable course.

[Vinca]

9. This entire "compromise" was nothing more than political theater.

In the end, King George can interpret the Geneva Conventions as he wishes and, given he's an amoral lunatic, that - in the words of Martha Stewart - is not a good thing. McCain, Graham and Warner should be ashamed of themselves. If you're going to stand up for what's right, then stand up for what's right. This is like a fat girl giving up chocolate cake for cherry pie because cherries are fruit.

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Maybe we should send McCain this handy little chart

just in case he's forgotten what torture is and is not?

[DeepModem Mom]

12. Thanks for this addition, DoYouEver Wonder. nt

[The Wielding Truth]

14. What about sexual or religious humiliation and abuse?

[peaches2003]

11. We'll see how much McCain sold himself for

during the 2008 campaign when Bush is campaigning with him and giving him hugs and kisses. He sold himself to the devil again.

[remfan]

13. ...and when * issues the signing statement, what then John?

Or do you already know it's coming and don't care? I'd bet money you knew the last one was coming, and I'd bet you know that the WH only agreed to 'compromise' on this because they've got the SIGNING statement up their sleeve and ready to go.

Warner, Graham, and McCain. The torture triplets.

:puke:

[VegasWolf]

15. Why does McCain hate the war on terra? nt