Bush Will Veto Ban On Torture

McCain, Once Tortured Himself, Joins White House To Oppose Bill Prohibiting Waterboarding

(CBS/AP)  The White House said today that President Bush will veto a measure that would ban the CIA from using what the administration describes as "enhanced interrogation methods" on terror suspects.

The provision, part of a broad intelligence authorization bill passed by the House and Senate, would prohibit any interrogation techniques to be used on prisoners that are not authorized or condoned by the U.S. Army Field Manual.

CBS News White House Correspondent Mark Knoller reports that the White House is confident that the president's veto would be sustained.

The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 51 to 45; 5 Republicans joined 45 Democrats and 1 independent in favor of the ban.

White House press secretary Dana Perino characterized the confrontation in partisan terms, saying Americans will have to choose between supporting a ban on waterboarding and protecting national security: "They'll have to ask themselves, 'Do you trust the intelligence community more than you trust Democrats who are beholden to their left wing?' And that's the debate that this country is going to have."

Sen. John McCain, who has previously spoken out against torture (having been tortured himself while held captive during the Vietnam War), voted against the bill, but said his vote was not inconsistent with his previous calls for a ban.

McCain had earlier sponsored the 2006 Detainee Treatment Act which included a ban on waterboarding, which President Bush invalidated by a signing statement giving himself the authority to ignore it.

"What we need is not to tie the CIA to the Army Field Manual, but rather to have a good faith interpretation of the statutes that guide what is permissible in the CIA program," McCain said, in stating his opposition to the bill.

"We're now at the point where we have a clear and concrete law," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. "It's up to the president to sign the bill. If the president vetoes the intelligence authorization, he will be voting in favor of waterboarding, plain and simple - no ands, ifs or buts."

Schumer also warned that a presidential veto of the authorization bill "will hamstring our ability to gather and act on important intelligence at a time of war."

The administration's view is that the ban on waterboarding would force the CIA to shut down its program of enhanced interrogation of terror suspects, something President Bush regards as an important tool in the war on terror.

Although President Bush has stated that the United States has not and will not torture people, it has been learned that Mr. Bush himself has authorized the use of waterboarding on detainees (a practice previously prosecuted by the United States as a war crime), and has claimed the authority to do so again in certain circumstances.

Despite military interrogators' assertions that waterboarding and other brands of torture do not produce reliable intelligence, the Bush administration continues to argue that it needs the option of waterboarding when seeking information from recalcitrant prisoners.

Attorney General Mike Mukasey has declined to declare that waterboarding is torture, despite congressional demands during and after his Senate confirmation process, fueling the administration critics' assumption that admitting such would expose administration figures who authorized the practice to criminal prosecution.

Despite the fight over the waterboarding ban, a senior U.S. Justice Department official said Thursday that laws and other limits enacted since three terrorism suspects held by the CIA were waterboarded have eliminated the technique from what is now legally allowed by the Agency.

"The set of interrogation methods authorized for current use is narrower than before, and it does not today include waterboarding," Steven G. Bradbury, acting head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, says in remarks prepared for his appearance Thursday before the House Judiciary Constitution subcommittee.

"There has been no determination by the Justice Department that the use of waterboarding, under any circumstances, would be lawful under current law," he said, avoiding suggestion that waterboarding might be considered legal in the future.

In 2005 Bradbury signed two secret legal memos authorizing the CIA to use waterboarding, as well as physical violence and freezing temperatures, when questioning terror detainees. Because of those opinions, Senate Democrats have opposed his nomination to formally head the legal counsel's office.

Judge Dismisses Detainee Rendition Lawsuit

In a related story, a federal judge on Wednesday threw out a lawsuit accusing a subsidiary of Boeing Co. of illegally aiding the CIA's secret rendition program by flying detainees overseas where they could be tortured.

U.S. District Court Judge James Ware accepted the arguments made by CIA Director Gen. Michael Hayden, who had earlier evoked the "state secrets privilege," saying that going forward with the case would jeopardize national security.

The American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit was filed against Jeppesen Dataplan Inc., of San Jose, Calif.

In arguments Tuesday, ACLU lawyers had said that many of the facts about the rendition program were already public knowledge.

CBSNews.com producer David Morgan contributed to this report.

[hillaryin08]

Bush Will Veto Ban On Torture

Good, its not torture anyways

[irliberal]

How can you veto an illegal act? Torture is illegal and waterboarding is torture. It shouldn''t even be a question. The criminals responsible for this WILL be held accountable!

HILLARY 08! WOOHOO!

[trillion1]

The Just. Dept. declared it illegal so bush will just make it legal. Why doesn''t he just do one of his infamous signing statements saying this is now a law but not for me.

[flreason]

How sad. I respected John McCain for bucking the current administration when they tried to distance themselves from the Geneva Accords and justify torture. Apparently his ambition has overruled his previous ethical stand. I can''t understand how he can continue to ally himself with an administration that is arguably the most corrupt and unethical in our history. He has chained himself to the mast of a sinking ship.

[neoconslayer]

America was once a great nation.

[sgtrds]

Hey George W. Bush! FU*CK YOU!!!!

[l8c6]

How ''bout that Joker?

[myidoncbs]

Bush wants to leave a "legacy". This is it:

"King George The Incompetent Approved Torture, destroying the American Dream of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness and ushering in the New Dark Ages. He shall be despised for all eternity."

[inventagod]

George Bu$h...

Sent America back in time to 1949...

Mission Accomplished.

[aeasus]

SgtRDS,

I hope everyone else,as I,see this in the same manner you expressed.

[walt1944-2009]

As expected, the Great Emperor Bush II plans on vetoing any bills passed by Congress which prohibit the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques" (aka TORTURE!)on "terrrrrrrrrorists" by the CIA, FBI, or any other government department!

Surprisingly, the Great Emperor has been joined in his stand by the "almost" neocon Fascist Nazi Rupublican Party nominee, "Bagdad" John McCain, who was once a POW at the "Hanoi Hilton" for several years and "allegedly" tortured himself.

With "Bagdad" John, one begins to wonder if maybe he enjoyed being tortured by the Vietnamese, looking forward to the waterboarding, electric shocks, and other forms of "enhanced techniques" and cannot wait for this new round of torture methods.

Despite all this, the Great Emperor is confident his veto will be upheld thanks to his stupidly-loyal neocon Fascist Nazi followers in the Congress, who, despite their minority numbers, are still able to twist the arms of the evil, cowardly Whimpo-crats and give the Great Emperor whatever he wants!!!

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!

[chalres-2009]

Hitler would be proud!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[infidel_us]

At least ''W'' can still do something right.

[quetzal0666]

Will he sign it right Before Interpol get the case file on him?

[liberalme]

And why wouldn''t he veto it??


Ginzaloonie Scalia said it''s ok

Mukasey wouldn''t know--he''s never donned a uniform

Cheney--as long as he''s not on the receiving end-(thus the cowardly deferments)

These guys LOVE war, conflict, fear--and torture.

Boy it''s great to be an American these days--well actually, we have become what we despise the most, a country without a soul.

[infidel_us]

He shall be despised for all eternity."
Posted by MyIDonCBS at 01:18 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Only by leftwing, bedwetting, crybaby liberals. Maybe you and Dan Ratherbiased can forge more memos against John McCain this time. Better hurry....November''s coming!

[l8c6]

How ''bout that Joker?

[shingles1]

"They''ll have to ask themselves, ''Do you trust the intelligence community more than you trust Democrats who are beholden to their left wing?''- Perino

That''s funny, because the intelligence community doesn''t believe that torture works. We''re not talking about a "ticking time bomb scenario" here, we''re talking about using torture as a regular ongoing interrogation technique. Torture doesn''t work.

Those who say that the use of torture has saved lives need to prove this with examples of HOW exactly lives have been saved. Notice how they never provide any examples.

The President''s threatened veto is just about providing legal cover for past waterboarding. It''s about saving his own butt.

[l8c6]

Love that joker :-)

[vet999999]

Good....I don''t care one bit what happens to these people, I don''t care if turture works or not. These are animals and deserve to be treated as such. We don''t need to be treating them any better than they treat their women

[aeasus]

Sen. John McCain, who has previously spoken out against torture (having been tortured himself while held captive during the Vietnam War), voted against the bill, but said his vote was not inconsistent with his previous calls for a ban.

so he definetly thinks maybe it ok? what a bafooon!

[l8c6]

No matter where you are or when you are, there they are ---the nazis.

[neobrian-2009]

WATER-BOARD SHRUB!!!!
This gives the green light to All opposed to US to water-board our soldiers !,...Geneva convention ? Why sign an agreement if you have no intention of upholding it. SHRUB is WITHOUT a DOUBT,The BIGGEST CRIMINAL LIVING TODAY !

[sgtrds]

so he definetly thinks maybe it ok? what a bafooon!

Posted by aeasus at 01:37 PM : Feb 14, 2008

He voted for the ban before he voted against the ban. And the GOP accused Kerry of flip-flopping!

[DaveGress]

Infidel_US - don''t worry McLaime has plenty of skeletons in his closet.

[sgtrds]

I''''m thrilled the GOP will run on a pro-torture platform.

Posted by nokoolaid at 01:43 PM : Feb 14, 2008

They can add it to their other planks of hating poor children, loving tax cuts for the wealthy, more unending war, more massive debts, more massive defects, more troops dying in vain, more hating veterans, more spying on Americans, more sending of jobs overseas, more hating miners, etc. Sounds like they have a real winner of a platform this year!

[moderateman]

Just another indication of how immoral, corrupt, and arrogant this pseudo Hilter is. Too bad that this cast of scumbags won''t ever be on trail for war crimes.

[andor3]

"Sen. John McCain, who has previously spoken out against torture (having been tortured himself while held captive during the Vietnam War), voted against the bill, but said his vote was not inconsistent with his previous calls for a ban."

So begins the McCain dance of flip-flop, pandering, selling-out, and bending every which way--trying to fabricate a marketable image to replace the tired old man. We are gonna see a lot of this dance in the next months!

[hillaryin08]

WATER-BOARD SHRUB!!!!
This gives the green light to All opposed to US to water-board our soldiers !,...Geneva convention ? Why sign an agreement if you have no intention of upholding it. SHRUB is WITHOUT a DOUBT,The BIGGEST CRIMINAL LIVING TODAY !


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by neobrian at 01:39 PM : Feb 14, 2008

They dont waterboard us, they cut our heads off. I think I would rather be water-boarded. Since waterboarding has been around and approved by the last 7 Democrat presidents, are you sure this isnt about Bush and not the waterboarding itself comrad?

On another note.....

Clinton To Get More Aggressive

Does this mean they ar going to Vince Foster Obamma? Or maybe try and steel the election thru secret delagates? Whatever they do they have to make it look like the Republicans did it to get you libs to go along with it.

Baaaahhh (sheep)

[nothappyatall]

Im waiting for the day now when the muslims take some US soldiers or tourists hostage and waterboard them for days on camera and then when slammed by the US as barbaric torture- refer back to it not being torture because BUSH said it wasnt and even veto''d a bill that would have declared it torture.

[rowdytexan2]

[Americans] will have to ask themselves, ''Do you trust the intelligence community more than you trust Democrats who are beholden to their left wing?''

White House press secretary Dana .....

No, I absolutely trust not one freaking thing this Neocon sponsored intelligence community says!

Roll on November!

Put a ban on baby making for Neocons and Neocon supporters, please!

[secundus2]

What the Senate or the whole Congress won''t pass is a law that prohibits the specified harsh interrogation techniques except under extraordinary circumstances certified by CIA Director and approved by President.

That kind of language might actually get 67 votes and be veto-proof. Everything else is partisan posturing.

[hillaryin08]

Im waiting for the day now when the muslims take some US soldiers or tourists hostage and waterboard them for days on camera and then when slammed by the US as barbaric torture- refer back to it not being torture because BUSH said it wasnt and even veto''''d a bill that would have declared it torture.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by newster1 at 01:53 PM : Feb 14, 2008

They dont waste time waterboarding anybody, they just cut our heads off you idiot. You know they are laughing at you dont you?

[mbcsmith]

Im waiting for the day now when the muslims take some US soldiers or tourists hostage and waterboard them for days on camera and then when slammed by the US as barbaric torture- refer back to it not being torture because BUSH said it wasnt and even veto''''d a bill that would have declared it torture.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by newster1 at 01:53 PM : Feb 14, 2008

They cut their heads off and drag their dead bodies through the streets. Are you really that ignorant. We just want to pour a little water on them.

[sgtrds]

They dont waste time waterboarding anybody, they just cut our heads off you idiot. You know they are laughing at you dont you?

Posted by hillaryin08 at 01:56 PM : Feb 14, 2008

I would never advocate just cutting of their heads! At least not until after we give them both, Bush and Cheney, a fair trial. Then they can be executed.

[neobrian-2009]

WE Know You Brain-washed & Idiotic!

Baaaahhh (sheep)


Posted by hillaryin08 at 01:53 PM : Feb 14, 2008
-------------------
You are Truly Pathetic,...The worst type of SCUM,..A Bottom-feeder,..You Eat Any Feces Shrub feeds You,..Go Back to Your trailer court,..Drink another beer and Watch Rush,...Faux Noise beckons You !

[hillaryin08]

[Americans] will have to ask themselves, ''''Do you trust the intelligence community more than you trust Democrats who are beholden to their left wing?''''

White House press secretary Dana .....

No, I absolutely trust not one freaking thing this Neocon sponsored intelligence community says!

Roll on November!

Put a ban on baby making for Neocons and Neocon supporters, please!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by RowdyTexan2 at 01:55 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Hillary got waterboarded by the Obamma wave, I dont see anyone complaining about that.

Just admit it lib, waterboarding is not the real issue here. Its your hatred for Bush thats the issue. Waterboarding has been approved as an interagation tecneque since the 30''s and you know why? Because it doesent leave any permanent Physical or Psyclogical effects on anyone except the liberals who use it as a political tool.

Your a moron.

[hillaryin08]

I would never advocate just cutting of their heads! At least not until after we give them both, Bush and Cheney, a fair trial. Then they can be executed.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by SgtRDS at 01:59 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Who is going to do that? Your Democrat Controlled Congress? hahahahahahahah your an idiot. and dont thow the 2/3 majority myth on us, you cant veto your own impeachment. your an idiot.

[sgtrds]

You are Truly Pathetic,...The worst type of SCUM,..A Bottom-feeder,..You Eat Any Feces Shrub feeds You,..Go Back to Your trailer court,..Drink another beer and Watch Rush,...Faux Noise beckons You !

Posted by neobrian at 02:00 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Great and very accurate description! However you must understand that you are speaking to someone who is brain-dead, so don''t expect anything intelligent back from he/she/it.

[hillaryin08]

You are Truly Pathetic,...The worst type of SCUM,..A Bottom-feeder,..You Eat Any Feces Shrub feeds You,..Go Back to Your trailer court,..Drink another beer and Watch Rush,...Faux Noise beckons You !



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by neobrian at 02:00 PM : Feb 14, 2008

At least I wont bee the one jumping out the 5th story window when you serve another Republican president you ****......heheheheheh

[liberalme]

Does this mean they ar going to Vince Foster Obamma? Or maybe try and steel the election thru secret delagates? Whatever they do they have to make it look like the Republicans did it to get you libs to go along with it.
aahhh (sheep)
Posted by hillaryin08

""Steel" an election? Funny you should mention "steal"--
I''ve yet to see anything the Repukes have been honest about.

[sgtrds]

It would be an improvement over hacking their heads off with a dull knife like the terrorists do in the past.

Posted by ilikecats1 at 02:02 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Sounds like a great way to punish Bush and Cheney after their war crimes convictions. Certainly hanging is much too good for them, but a dull knife on the other hand would be perfect! I propose putting it on world wide pay per view. I''d pay $49.95 to see it!

[hillaryin08]

You are Truly Pathetic,...The worst type of SCUM,..A Bottom-feeder,..You Eat Any Feces Shrub feeds You,..Go Back to Your trailer court,..Drink another beer and Watch Rush,...Faux Noise beckons You !

Posted by neobrian at 02:00 PM : Feb 14, 2008

Great and very accurate description! However you must understand that you are speaking to someone who is brain-dead, so don''''t expect anything intelligent back from he/she/it.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by SgtRDS at 02:03 PM : Feb 14, 2008

make sur your buddy makes room for you in that window, you homos cand hold hands on the way down hahahaheheheh

[liberalme]

would never advocate just cutting of their heads! At least not until after we give them both, Bush and Cheney, a fair trial. Then they can be executed.

Posted by SgtRDS at 01

Sounds good to me!

[myidoncbs]

"He [Bush] shall be despised for all eternity."
- Posted by MyIDonCBS at 01:18 PM : Feb 14, 2008

"Only by leftwing, bedwetting, crybaby liberals"
- Posted by Infidel_US at 01:31 PM : Feb 14, 2008

I''m not a leftwing anything, I don''t wet my bed, I am not a crybaby, and I am not a "liberal"... but I do indeed despise G.W. Bush, The Little Boy Who Loved To Stick Firecrackers Up Live Frogs'' Bu.tts And Watch Them Blow Up.

[hillaryin08]

""Steel" an election? Funny you should mention "steal"--
I''''ve yet to see anything the Repukes have been honest about.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by liberalme at 02:05 PM : Feb 14, 2008

We all know its ok for a lib to steele an election from another lib. Just like its ok to be a rich lib that complaines about everyone elses carbon footprint. I would tell you to shoot your self in November but you probably dont own a gun right comrad?

[sgtrds]

Geez, Barbara should have aborted that worthless waste of oxygen.

Posted by dragonwagon5 at 02:06 PM : Feb 14, 2008

I got a coffee cup that shows the first George Bush looking at a picture of the chimp and saying "I shoulda pulled out!"

[carlad1958]

Stop letting George W watch 24!!

[rowdytexan2]

The point is, torturing does not get viable information, so what''s the point?

Our intelligence says these are the BADDEST GUYS IN THE WORLD!!!! 1.) the baddest guys in the world are not going to give in to torture, I mean these guys are willing to blow themselves up with bombs and in airplanes. 2.) information gotten via torture can seldom be viable information as they will say whatever you want them to to stop! So a confession under torture is just bull *****!

And the fact that the CIA destroyed the tapes of their torture is leading people to believe that they didn''t confess in the first place...and that the lying Neocon regime and the lying incompetent intellligence agencies know it!

There are already laws against torture. If Bush uses torture he''s breaking the law anyway. Pixx on him and his veto pen.

[hillaryin08]

We scare them and they cut our heads off.

Sounds like a good trade to me.

(bahhhhhh bahhhhhhh)