Republicans Stop Bill To Ban Waterboarding

[Omaha Steve]

Source: 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.


A Senate bill which would prohibit the CIA from using waterboarding as an interrogation method was blocked by Republicans, who believed that banning the torture method would "destroy" the government's ability to combat terrorism. (CBS)

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.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/14/national/main3621016.shtml

[Solar Power]

1. Maybe they should waterboard the Senate Republicans.

It might give them an idea of what they are really in favor of.

[Heywood J]

5. Good idea.

Start with the Senate, then move to the House. If they're going to be for it, let it be informed consent.

[sakabatou]

6. Hear, hear!

[fascisthunter]

2. Republican Party=Fascist Party

what a disgusting lot.

[rockybelt]

3. HEIL HITLER

YOU MOTHER FUCKERS!!!!!!!!

[Bobbieo]

4. The purpose of torture is to get the tortured to tell the torturers what they want to hear so they

can pass on to the American public what they want us to hear. It's got nothing to do with stopping the terrorists. It's all for propaganda!

[noel adamson]

8. The purpose of this torture is more often to terrorize the public; "shock and awe"...

That is why U.S. backed death squads from Pinochet to Iraq have often left the horribly mangled bodies of their torture victims in strategic public places.

[rockybelt]

11. I respect your opinion

but I believe that the torture is only to teach a lesson.

You will give us the answers we want and we will tell you the answers we want.

Period

[Critters2]

7. How do these people live with themselves? nt

[SpikeTss]

17. Comparable to the Nazis in Germay

The logic and greed behind their actions is comparable to a certain degree.

[lumberjack_jeff]

9. The Republicans blocked a bill which would prohibit something that is already a war crime.

That's pretty fundamental, isn't it?

Remember this next time someone objects to nasty politics on the basis; "we shouldn't use their tactics, we'd become just like them."

When Democrats push torture, come talk to me again. Just like them? Not by a long shot.

[Slyder]

10. Torture is un-American

The entire Bush administration and many rank-and-file Republicans are probably guilty of war crimes, just as many Nazis were at the end of WWII. As an American I am horrified at what has been done in my name, and perhaps all Americans share a degree of guilt.

I know Republicans who see nothing wrong with water boarding, until I suggest it be used on their under aged teens to get them to tell who bought them cigarettes or alcohol. If we are going to torture, we need it in our city and county law enforcement agencies. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Perhaps 14 year-old drunk drivers should be rendered to Algeria! That'll teach 'em! Let's do it right if we are going to do it! (now don't take me literally, I am just pointing out where this could lead)

I vote for no Republican in Kansas, even for local non-partisan offices. Every registered Republican shares te guilt. The Party should be disbanded and made illegal. Perhaps currently registered Republicans should be banned from public office or employment.

[nealmhughes]

13. I would not limit their actions to merely "unamerican." They repulse most of the Western World,

as well as a sizable chunk of the Eastern as well. Have we turned back the hands of time to pre-Enlightenment? So it would appear. We have religious instruction mandated (or attempted to be so at every turn masquerading as "open dialog on the theory of evolution with no room for the equally valid intelligent design theory"). It is quite obvious that all the Senate lacks is substituting their mace for a Cross, but it might offend the handful of Jewish senators, and so the act is not fait accompli.

To hell with the lot of them. Let them either reverently return to the prose of Voltaire and Jefferson, or even more importantly, Madison and Paine or else go back to the barrows where they were whelped.

[deacon]

12. The Pro Torture GOP. n/t

[orleans]

14. so i guess the republikas think it's okay for americans to be tortured.

fine. let's start with these fucking republikas who blocked the bill.

WHY DO REPUBLICANS WANT AMERICANS TO BE WATERBOARDED??

[truthisfreedom]

15. Senate republans LOVE waterboarding.

Just like they LOVE the Iraq war.

[Solly Mack]

16. It's called war crimes - committed by war criminals

Let's not pretend otherwise

America is admitting to war crimes...it is admitting to torture like it's no big deal. Like there is something to 'debate'

Where are the prosecutions?

[saigon68]

18. Thugs like Gangster Cheney must love the home movies

Of blind folded men having their rectums savaged by CIA criminals using plastic flashlights

(Read the Taguba Report on Abu Ghraib)

[boricua79]

19. simple

it's considered torture by the world.
REpublicans don't want to ban it.
Republicans are for torture.

Start passing out the memo.

[Doctor_J]

20. It's a good time to be a Repuke

You own the media, any unConstitutional, un-American, ultra-right-wing legislation that you can think of gets passed, and you're free to commit any crime without penalty. Life is good.

[LynnTheDem]

21. rEpublicans vote to SAVE TORTURE! How very "christian" them rightwingnuts are!

What great "family values"!

And of course they won't mind at all when Americans are waterboarded by other governments' agents. Aftr all, we're the leaders, and everyone should follow us!

Rightwingnuts; truly the stupidest MFers ever.

[Barrett808]

22. Here are the stickers my wife designed -- GOP: The Party of Torture

http://www.cafepress.com/leftopia

[GOPNotForMe]

23. God they are awful and insane. Who Would Jesus Torture?

They are making me crazy!

[lynnertic]

24. Sen. Lindsey Graham placed a hold on 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.

[sattahipdeep]

25. Prince's Total Intelligence Solutions...Graham said

Graham said in an interview....
"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."

....
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.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/14/national/main3621016.shtml