Republicans Stop Bill To Ban Waterboarding

Graham Places Hold On Bill, Calls Prohibition Against CIA Use Of Waterboarding "Ill-Advised"

(CBS/AP)  Senate Republicans blocked a bill Friday that would restrict the interrogation methods the CIA can use against terrorism suspects.

The bill would require the CIA to adhere to the Army's field manual on interrogation, which bans waterboarding, mock executions and other harsh interrogation methods.

The interrogation procedure, which is recognized as a form of torture by making the subject think he's drowning, is banned by international law. It has been used by CIA interrogators on terrorism suspects, or by those to whom U.S. prisoners have been sent via rendition flights.

It was recently learned that the CIA ordered the destruction of videotapes of interrogations in which detainees were reportedly subjected to waterboarding and other harsh measures.

The legislation, part of a measure authorizing the government's intelligence activities for 2008, had been approved a day earlier by the House by a vote of 222-199, and sent to the Senate for what was supposed to be final action.

Senate opponents of that provision, however, discovered a potentially fatal parliamentary flaw: The ban on torture had not been in the original versions of the intelligence bill passed by the House and Senate. Instead, it was a last-minute addition during negotiations between the two sides to write a compromise bill, a move that could violate Senate rules. The rule is intended to protect legislation from last-minute amendments that neither house of Congress has had time to fully consider.

Although it's not unheard of for new language to be added in House-Senate negotiations and accepted anyway, the rules allow such a move to be challenged and the language stripped from the bill.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., placed a hold on the intelligence bill, preventing the Senate from voting on it while the challenge goes forward.

"I think quite frankly applying the Army field manual to the CIA would be ill-advised and would destroy a program that I think is lawful and helps the country," Graham said in an interview.

If the Senate were to approve a stripped-down authorization bill next week, it would then have to go back to the House for another vote.

The field manual amendment was pushed by Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and backed by two Senate Republicans, Olympia Snowe of Maine and Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.

Feinstein defended the provision and said the Senate should debate it. "The Army Field Manual has been an effective guide for the military," she said. "It was very carefully written and reviewed. It has not come under criticism, unlike the constant criticism in the CIA arena .... It is my belief that America is not well-served by torture."

The White House threatened to veto the bill this week over the interrogation restrictions and a list of other issues. The CIA denies that it tortures detainees.

The Army field manual, adopted in 2006, prohibits forcing detainees to be naked, perform sexual acts, or pose in a sexual manner; placing hoods or sacks over detainees' heads or duct tape over their eyes; beating, shocking, or burning detainees; threatening them with military dogs; exposing them to extreme heat or cold; conducting mock executions; depriving them of food, water, or medical care; and waterboarding.

The CIA is known to have waterboarded three prisoners but has not used the technique since 2003, according to a government official familiar with the program who spoke on condition of anonymity because the information is classified. CIA Director Michael Hayden prohibited waterboarding in 2006.

The White House gave the CIA special latitude to conduct harsh or "enhanced" interrogations in 2002.

[the74blaster]

Clinton was no visionary. He was and is a pervert. Very different from being visionary. He wasn''''''''t a peace keeper either. He believed in multi-polarity, gave our national secrets to China and would have sold our country down the tubes. He was a fat, lazy, pervert.

Posted by mudrose,

Yeah, Clinton may have had issues with interns. However, compared to the current presidents overall job performance, its a misdemeanor. I mean where does lying under oath compare to starting a war on false pretenses? In short how can you even compare Clintons misadventures to war based on false pretenses?

I take it that you have no issues with the way the Bush administration has trashed our nations credibility to fight an optional war in Iraq. OBL is in Afganistan and the last time I checked that is a different country.

Its interesting that you rip on Clinton for selling secrets to the Chinese but its perfectly alright to sell them bonds to fund Bushs fiscal irresponsibility. Have you ever considered what would happen if the chinese decided to drop 1.5 trillion dollars of our bonds on the open market? The economic implications would be incredible.

The difference between you and I is that I am critical of blundering politicians regardless of party. I have not seen anything from you that is critical of the Bush administration.

[kansas1946]

Lindsey Graham is a ***, perverted, and sick. I hope South Carolina is proud of this scum.

[mudrose-2009]

Is there now a terrorist alive who does not know that waterboarding is a physical/psychological trick and not the real thing, forcing the hard boys of interrogation to resort to burying the buggers alive as the required logical extension of effective technique? As if we don''''t know only too well that the Dimnowits will always just give away our national security.

[mudrose-2009]

Clinton was no visionary. He was and is a pervert. Very different from being visionary. He wasn''''t a peace keeper either. He believed in multi-polarity, gave our national secrets to China and would have sold our country down the tubes. He was a fat, lazy, pervert.

[mcharlton]

I''m glad thr Republicans did that. The whole thing is psychological. Waterboarding is simply holding a guy down while he''s floating on a raft and pouring water in his face. the fear of drowning is what compells the guy to talk. The worst thing that could happen to him is he''ll be tired and he may get get water up his nose. It''s hardly "torture." Torture would be pouring boiling water on his head. If the bleeding hearts want to see torture, they should take a stroll through Saddam Hussein''s torture chambers.

[mudrose-2009]

I am appalled that this became a partisan issue.
Posted by Pensacola88

Appalled? Maybe. But you certainly shouldn''t be surprised. All that we can do to show terrorists that our intention is to provide for their well-being is the most important thing to Pewlosi, Reid and the Dimnowit Congress. Screw America. It''s right in keeping with George Soros''s playbook and his designs for a new world order which he regards the only obstacle to it is the U.S.

[pensacola88]

I am appalled that this became a partisan issue.

[mudrose-2009]

This is comical - Clinton was/is a visionary and a peacekeeper for the most part - Bush just walks in and pisses off the world and incites anger and war wherever he steps. Two different leadership styles - one a good leader the other (BUSH) a criminal!
Posted by simonsez40

Clinton was no visionary. He was and is a pervert. Very different from being visionary. He wasn''t a peace keeper either. He believed in multi-polarity, gave our national secrets to China and would have sold our country down the tubes. He was a fat, lazy, pervert.

[mudrose-2009]

The best time was probably when he was in the American Hospital in Dubai, only two months before 911. I wonder why the local CIA agents didn''''t pay him a visit ... Oups, they did ...
Posted by abbe91

Oh sure, another one of those cover up documents. Like Bldg. 7 conspiracy.

[mudrose-2009]

"As if we don''''''''t know who well the Dimnowits just give away our national security.
Posted by mudrose at 10:50 AM : Dec 17, 2007"

Yes, next thing you know, they will out covert CIA agents ...
Posted by abbe91

Yeah, that''s why they destroyed the tapes. Seems to me that they do protect their agents, the covert one''s that is. Hahahaha. Now do you get it.

[abbe91]

"Never said he was. You can go on and believe that capturing Bin Laden would have ended all of this mess, the rest of us live in the real world and know better.
Posted by katg21 at 09:36 AM : Dec 17, 2007"

The best time was probably when he was in the American Hospital in Dubai, only two months before 911. I wonder why the local CIA agents didn''t pay him a visit ... Oups, they did ...

[abbe91]

"What good would we do by pulling out before the job is completely done? Tell me.
Posted by katg21 at 10:14 AM : Dec 17, 2007"

If only Bush Sr would have pulled out before the job was done ...

[abbe91]

"As if we don''''t know who well the Dimnowits just give away our national security.
Posted by mudrose at 10:50 AM : Dec 17, 2007"

Yes, next thing you know, they will out covert CIA agents ...

[mudrose-2009]

Is there now a terrorist alive who does not know that waterboarding is a physical/psychological trick and not the real thing, forcing the hard boys of interrogation to resort to burying the buggers alive as the required logical extension of effective technique? As if we don''t know who well the Dimnowits just give away our national security.

[simonsez40]

Now the former president fails to see how Bush''''s policies in Iraq will succeed just as his did in Bosnia. But his partisan myopia should not cloud our vision. Success in Iraq may seem as unlikely as it once did in Bosnia. But, if we persevere, it will come just as surely." *** Morris

Posted by katg21 at 10:25 AM : Dec 17, 2007

This is comical - Clinton was/is a visionary and a peacekeeper for the most part - Bush just walks in and pisses off the world and incites anger and war wherever he steps. Two different leadership styles - one a good leader the other (BUSH) a criminal!

[katg21]

READ THIS ONE THEN LET IT GO...

"Fortunately, Bill Clinton had the courage to defy the United Nations in 1995 and act to bomb the Bosnian Serbs (with NATO cooperation and sponsorship). Then he had the foresight to send in U.S. peacekeeping forces, a deeply unpopular step.

Now the former president fails to see how Bush''s policies in Iraq will succeed just as his did in Bosnia. But his partisan myopia should not cloud our vision. Success in Iraq may seem as unlikely as it once did in Bosnia. But, if we persevere, it will come just as surely." *** Morris

[katg21]

parrot2,

We ARE making progress in Iraq, the SURGE is sealing the deal. What good would we do by pulling out before the job is completely done? Tell me.

WAITING

[katg21]

***** These quotes say it all. Cheers !
Posted by parrot2

Different time, different war. Cheers!

[katg21]

parrot2,

We ARE making progress in Iraq, the SURGE is sealing the deal. What good would we do by pulling out before the job is completely done? Tell me.

[katg21]

So who exactly are we out there (in that region) to get ? Posted by parrot2

We are in IRAQ to help them stabilize and establish their government. We are in Afghanastan for the same reason, only it''s the Taliban we are contending with. It''s a big picture and I''m not sure you are capable of getting it, or want to.