Experts: Bush Goal in Terrorism Bill Latitude for Interrogators' Methods

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT: Experts Say Bush’s Goal in Terrorism Bill Is Latitude for Interrogators’ Methods
By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG
Published: September 19, 2006

WASHINGTON, Sept. 18 — In his showdown with rebellious Senate Republicans over bills to bring terrorism suspects to trial, President Bush has repeatedly called for clarity in the rules for what he calls “alternative interrogation techniques” used by the Central Intelligence Agency.

What Mr. Bush really wants, legal experts on both sides of the debate say, is latitude so the interrogators can use methods that the military is barred from using under a recently issued Army field manual.

Despite his call for clarity, the president has been vague in talking about the alternatives, which have in the past included sleep deprivation, playing ear-splittingly loud music and waterboarding, which induces a feeling of drowning.

“They can’t come out and say we want more leeway to rough these people up,” said John Radsan, who was assistant general counsel for the intelligence agency from 2002 to 2004 and now teaches at the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul. “That doesn’t sell. So he says we need clarity. It doesn’t play well to say we need to deprive them of sleep and play loud music.”

On Monday, the Bush administration appeared to make the first stab at compromise, telling senators, including John W. Warner, the Virginia Republican who is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and who is leading the opposition to the president’s plan, to expect a counterproposal....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/19/washington/19interrogate.html

[shanti]

1. re this sentence:

"What Mr. Bush really wants, legal experts on both sides of the debate say, is latitude so the interrogators can use methods that the military is barred from using under a recently issued Army field manual."

IN OTHER WORDS, HE WANTS TORTURE. :(

[Erika]

3. Torture is only acceptable to a minority of right wingers

Not the general American public who are sickened at the thought that our great country would allow torture of anyone.

[flyarm]

2. bull NYT..pissy pants wants his ass covered for breaking all

international and domestic law..thats all this is about..it is cya..his ass!

fly

[Erika]

4. and may his ass be blistered and impeached

for what he's done to the reputation of our country.

[flyarm]

5. absolutely!!!!!!!!! n/t

[Supersedeas]

6. latitude in bringing us closer to the moral equivalent of THEIR techniques