Senate Votes to Ban Waterboarding

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Senate votes to ban waterboarding
By PAMELA HESS · The Associated Press
Updated 02/13/08 - 5:27 PM

The Senate has joined the House in voting to prohibit the CIA from using waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods.

The Senate approved an intelligence bill Wednesday that restricts the CIA to the 19 interrogation techniques outlined in the Army field manual. That manual prohibits waterboarding, a technique that makes a suspect feel he is drowning.

CIA Director Michael Hayden has said waterboarding may not be legal under current law. President Bush has threatened to veto any bill that limits CIA interrogation techniques.

Read more: http://www.heraldonline.com/115/story/363258.html

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Talking Points Memo Coverage: http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/senate_passes_bill_with_ban_on.php

Senate Passes Bill with Ban on Waterboarding

By Paul Kiel - February 13, 2008, 5:35PM
So now it's on to that veto. The Senate just narrowly passed the intelligence authorization bill, which contained a provision that would effectively ban the CIA's use of waterboarding and other "enhanced interrogation" techniques forbidden by the Army Field Manual.

The final vote was rather close -- 51-45, with a few Republicans crossing over to make the difference. There were a couple remarkable "no" votes, though, from senators who've vocally opposed the use of waterboarding. Both Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who's vocally opposed the use of waterboarding, and Arlen Specter (R-PA) voted against. We've inquired why and we'll let you know what we find out.

[uppityperson]

1. That old Geneva Conventions thing is going to come back and bite the USA someday.

[Tempest]

7. Can you imagine the outcry from this administration

If China waterboarded the pilots they captured when the U.S. spy plane went down in their country?

[mac2]

2. Impeach the evil leader....Bush

He violates every law and right our country stood for since its founding. He laughs in our faces with arrogance and contempt. No he doesn't have to die before history has the angle on his dictoral\treasonous rule (and the cowardly Congress who went along).

Hyden is a bunch of crap too. His oath of office has been betrayed. The Senate members who approved his appointment are responsible for this mess.

Torture is evil under anyone's holy book. It violates our Constitution and years of legislation. The world looks on us in horror.

[Ano Genitus]

3. Curtail that crazy sadism a little bit.

They would never have allowed that behavior on M*A*S*H.

[mac2]

5. At least until after the "selection" 2008

[niyad]

4. uhhh, didn't we prosecute people for that sort of thing decades ago?

isn't it illegal under every convention to which this country is a signer?

[laconicsax]

9. Shhh!

They don't want you to know it already was illegal.

[Robbien]

6. Congress votes to ban something which is already illegal

Now how is that going to help? It is already against the rules, in every country on this planet including the USA. But we do it anyway.

What does banning it again going to accomplish?

[laconicsax]

10. It helps the criminals make the case that it wasn't illegal before.

If it was already illegal, then Congress didn't need to make it illegal again.
If it wasn't legal to begin with, then why did Congress move to make it illegal?

[Robbien]

14. Interesting thought

And great signature line laconicsax.

[fascisthunter]

28. EXACTLY... political cover

as well as legal.... disgusting.

[Psyop Samurai]

30. BINGO !! ..nt

[Judi Lynn]

11. Hope they've got some bright ideas about enforcing the ban. n/t

[Hissyspit]

12. Now stop with that logic stuff.

What's wrong with you?

:)

[postulater]

13. Another big win for the Department of Redundancy Department!

[TwilightGardener]

16. It's illegal for the military. Apparently it was not for the CIA?

[TwilightGardener]

17. BTW--Kick in the pants to Ben Nelson, who was the only Dem to vote against the ban.

Three cheers to Smith, Snowe, and Hagel, who were the only Repubs to vote against torture today.

[midnight]

23. That is a hoot ain't it. Man this whole bunch in Congress are

showing us an exercise in doing absolutely nothing. Just end this illigal war, improve the economy, stop spying on us, and one more thing-house our homeless vets!

[fascisthunter]

27. Incredible Isn't It?

Not that they created a new law that bans water boarding, does that mean it was legal before. Is this cover for Bush...?

[Barrett808]

8. And off to the Greatest page. n/t

[flor de jasmim]

15. 199 votes FOR waterboarding...aargghhh

maybe they were on steroids...

[featherman]

18. McCain votes for torture

[saigon68]

25. He misses the good old days at the Hanoi Hilton

[BulletproofLandshark]

19. Good ol' dependable Specter

He talks a good game, but at the end of the day he ALWAYS sides with the fascists.

[IronLionZion]

20. A Dem president would sign it into law

it's important to have a Dem president. Drill that into anyone you know who plans to skip the presidential election for whatever reason. Also drill that into any DUer who complains about our presidential candidates skipping this vote to campaign today.

roll call vote:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00022

[riverdale]

31. Thank you for posting the roll call

I was wondering how Lieberman voted on that one. Pro-torture, as it turns out.

[KeepItReal]

21. Yay! They closed the barn door!....Er...Now where are the animals?

:shrug:

[Hissyspit]

22. .

[cstanleytech]

24. McCain again *sigh*

If only he had not turned and embraced the far right I could see voting for him, now though that he has I just dont think I can and I know there are no other republicans running who I will vote for either.

[frog92969]

26. Outlawed waterboarding?

Aren't they about 60 years late on that?

[ladywnch]

29. what a waste of time. even if jr would sign it you KNOW he would simply

attach a signing statement that says he can ignore it to get info if he wants to. and congress will do nothing abou it.

[Seeking Serenity]

32. They can't do that!

I like waterboarding whenever we go to the lake.

No, wait, I think that's kneeboarding.

Never mind.

(OK, I suppose I shouldn't joke about such a serious issue, but I have a tendency to do just that.)

[MadHound]

33. Well at least Congress has learned to do the same thing over and over again

Waterboarding was already illegal, there was no need to criminalize it again. All they're doing is providing cover for Bushco.

[Freddie Stubbs]

34. Senate Votes to Ban Waterboarding

Source: FoxNews

WASHINGTON — Congress on Wednesday moved to prohibit the CIA from using waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods on terror suspects, despite President Bush's threat to veto any measure that limits the agency's interrogation techniques.

The prohibition was contained in a bill authorizing intelligence activities for the current year, which the Senate approved on a 51-45 vote. It would restrict the CIA to the 19 interrogation techniques outlined in the Army field manual. That manual prohibits waterboarding, a method that makes an interrogation subject feel he is drowning.

The House had approved the measure in December. Wednesday's Senate vote set up a confrontation with the White House, where Bush has promised to veto any bill that restricts CIA questioning.

Arguing for such restrictions, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., said the use of harsh tactics would boomerang on the United States.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2008Feb14/0,4670,IntelligenceBill,00.html

[kwyjibo]

35. Awesome.

Can they override a veto?

[cornermouse]

36. Vlad the Impaler, George Bush the Waterboarder.

Sort of go together, don't they.

[goddess40]

37. Banning something that is already illegal - way to go

Now can they do something important like impeach Cheney?

[bullimiami]

38. seriously that is a problem for me.

enforce the damn laws that are on the books. what the hell good is it to pass another law just to not enforce it.
this government has gone way far down the shitter.

[Tesha]

43. Well, the Senate can't no. But I take your point. (NT)

[Auntie Bush]

39. That makes no difference what so ever. Ever hear of signing statements?

Dictator George above the law bush* will just add a signing statement saying he permits torturing any time he feels it's needed or that he feels we are in danger...which is all the time!

[Tesha]

44. Sooner or later, Our Brave Legislators(tm) will have to take one of these to court.

Signing statements that announce the President's blatant intention
to disregard a law are clearly meaningless, with no Constitutional
foundation.

Tesha

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

40. There's a REALLY simple way for them around that

...wanna bet they rewrite the Field Manual this year?

:shrug:

[BlueManDude]

41. McCain opposes the ban - so much for St Johnny Mac.

[Phred42]

42. Fine - BUT THIS DOES NOT MAKE UP FOR Telecom IMMUNITY

SO they can spy on American Citizens and do what ever they want with that information but can't then Waterboard us.

But you didn't say they couldn't pull out our fingernails. I guess that will be the next round of diversion.

We have been sold out by both Houses of Congress. Democracy is on life support and dieing.

[onehandle]

45. How did Clinton and Obama vote? nt

[Uncle Joe]

46. I can't help but think of the now deceased Shah of Iran and all the converts torture won for him,

I have no idea why these people believe or believed it would be different with us.

Thanks for the thread, Hissyspit.