All 10 Dems On Judiciary Cmte Write Mukasey: Denounce Waterboarding As Torture

[babylonsister]

Panel Pushes for Nominee to Denounce Technique

By PHILIP SHENON
Published: October 24, 2007

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 — All 10 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee pressed Michael B. Mukasey, President Bush’s nominee for attorney general, on Tuesday for a clear-cut statement that the interrogation technique known as waterboarding, which simulates drowning and has been used by the C.I.A. against terrorism suspects, is illegal.

In his confirmation hearings last week, Mr. Mukasey, a retired federal judge from New York, declined to say if waterboarding was torture or was otherwise illegal; he insisted he was not aware of how the technique was carried out.

In their letter to Mr. Mukasey on Tuesday, the committee’s chairman, Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, and the panel’s other nine Democrats said they found it “surprising that you are unfamiliar with waterboarding since it has been the subject of much public discussion” and asserted that “your unwillingness to state that waterboarding is illegal may place Americans at risk of being subject to this abusive technique.”

The letter continued, “Please respond to the following question: Is the use of waterboarding, or inducing the misperception of drowning, as an interrogation technique illegal under U.S. law, including treaty obligations?” The senators requested a “prompt response” since Mr. Mukasey’s nomination is still before the committee.

A White House spokesman, Tony Fratto, said Mr. Mukasey could not comment on details of interrogation techniques because “he has not been read into classified intelligence programs, and he won’t be read in until he is confirmed as attorney general.”

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http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/24/washington/24mukasey.html?ex=1350878400&en=77ca72cd033dd806&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[Bluzmann57]

1. So they write a letter asking him to denounce waterboarding?

Big deal. Bush and co. will do whatever they want to regardless of any "strongly worded" crap the so called opposition throws out there.

[babylonsister]

2. This man has to be confirmed, unless he's appointed during a recess.

That would be interesting. I'm just glad to see they're not just falling in lock step.

[tekisui]

3. Classic. They have to send him a history and definition of waterboarding.

So, can they now ask him some follow-ups, and get him on the record? Now, that he's been educated?

[napi21]

4. I'm sure someone can send him a video of how it's done!

I'VE seen video's of it, so I'm SURE a candidate for AG can find it too! In fact, they should have burned a CD and enclosed it with the letter!

[spanone]

5. the 'ol catch 22

A White House spokesman, Tony Fratto, said Mr. Mukasey could not comment on details of interrogation techniques because “he has not been read into classified intelligence programs, and he won’t be read in until he is confirmed as attorney general.”

[EFerrari]

6. It's cr@P! The whole world knows what the CIA does

because we've all seen the Abu Graib photographs.