WASHINGTON - Under scorching criticism from senators, President Bush’s nominee for attorney general, Alberto Gonzales, condemned torture as an interrogation tactic Thursday and promised to prosecute abusers of terrorist suspects. He also disclosed that the White House was looking at trying to change the Geneva Convention that protects prisoner rights.
Pressed by both Democratic and Republican senators at his confirmation hearing, Gonzales defended his advice as Bush’s White House counsel that al-Qaida and other terrorist suspects were not entitled to the protections of the treaty. But he said there was more to the issue than that.
“Torture and abuse will not be tolerated by this administration,” Gonzales told senators on the Judiciary Committee. “I will ensure the Department of Justice aggressively pursues those responsible for such abhorrent actions.”
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