Senator: Ban torture but give CIA interrogation leeway(Kit Bond)

[maddezmom]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON - Seeking to referee a stalemate over how the CIA can interrogate prisoners, a top Senate Republican says Congress should ban waterboarding and seven other abusive methods of interrogation but allow the spy agency some leeway in how it questions detainees.

Missouri Sen. Kit Bond, the senior Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, outlined his proposal in nonbinding language accompanying a bill that sets out the intelligence community's policies, programs and spending for fiscal year 2009. An unclassified summary was released Thursday.

Like the 2008 version of the authorization bill — which President Bush vetoed — the bill restricts the CIA to using only the 19 interrogation techniques approved by the military in the Army Field Manual. Bond said he would seek to attach his proposed compromise to this or other legislation.

Rather than prescribe what the intelligence agency is allowed to do in an interrogation, Bond wants to write into law only what the CIA cannot do: force detainees to be naked, perform sexual acts, or pose in a sexual manner; have hoods or sacks placed over their heads or duct tape over their eyes; be beaten, shocked, or burned; threatened with military dogs; exposed to extreme heat or cold; subjected to mock executions; deprived of food, water, or medical care; or waterboarded.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080508/ap_on_go_co/cia_interrogation;_ylt=Akdak8S9fAiMa1XE6PeO9bA8KbIF

[David__77]

1. i.e.: Ban it in words, allow it in deeds.

Anyone who thinks that US will stop torturing is seriously deluded. That's not a reason to "allow" it, but we should all be aware of this fact. It's an integral policy to the functioning of the government forces.

[Sodbuster]

2. I thought it was already banned under treaties that we have signed...

but if you ban something that is illegal, does that mean that it is legal? Hmmmmmm

[ToughLuck]

3. He is smart to do this, the Bush regime is going to be more exposed for torture soon.

He wants to distance his party from this in anyway he can. The Military Commission Act 2006, gives Bush and Co. immunity only in the USA. Further testimony is down the road from the Canadian citizen as well. Fuck you Republicans, whatever exposure we can get the better..no matter how late in coming.
Oh and thank you too Pelosi, for letting it happen.

[rgbecker]

4. This is the perfect formula for torture innovation!

Works in sports too! Just list things that are prohibited and then stand back and see what people are capable of. Who would have dreamed up piling naked Iraqis on the floor? Americans have always been the best at innovation. USA! USA! Kit Bond's bill is as stupid as he is.

[struggle4progress]

5. Maybe we could replace campaign debates by waterboarding sessions

If Bond knows it's a good way of finding the truth, I'm sure he'll support the concept of citizens interrogating their Senate candidates under threat of simulated drowning

[VP505]

6. Did he think that up before

or after his 5 martini lunch???

[LynnTheDem]

7. AMERICA TORTURES...and George W. bUsh authorized it.

Disappearing people, indefinite detainment without charges, without access to legal representation; torture; rendition; unprovoked invasions; bombing hospitals, ambulances, media stations...

Who's the "bad guy"?