AP Bush anti-terror plan edges foward (uga uga-not good!!)

[rodeodance]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060920/ap_on_go_co/congress_terrorism

Bush anti-terror plan edges foward

By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 8 minutes ago

WASHINGTON -President Bush's stalled anti-terrorism agenda edged forward Tuesday, with a rebellious House member rewriting her bill on wiretaps more to his liking and maverick Senate Republicans reopening talks over how to handle detainees.

Rep. Heather Wilson (news, bio, voting record), R-N.M., offered to substitute her original bill on giving legal status to Bush's warrantless surveillance program with a bill that would grant a key administration request: allow wiretapping on Americans in the event of an "imminent" terrorist attack.

In exchange, the administration would be required to share with Congress more details of the nature of the threat, presumably with the House and Senate Intelligence committees and some congressional leaders.

.......

While the wiretapping question moved ahead, the second prong of Bush's legislative war agenda — treatment of detainees — also showed signs of progress........

[Erika]

and what about our rights as American citizens?

Very few in DC seem to care.

[acmejack]

2. Rights-oh, please!

That kind of thinking is just so pre 9-11. Some might say quaint. It shows that you don't appreciate the nature of our enemies and the measures required top keep Americans safe in this ever changing threat environment. The constant flow of bullshit, er propaganda, requires that the government have access to new agility in it's ability to infringe upon your freedoms. You are now reduced to serfdom in the world's newest dictatorship.

Welcome! You'll love it here! Or else...

[MadMaddie]

1. So the Neocons just have to guarantee an "October Surprise"

attack
<snip>
allow wiretapping on Americans in the event of an "imminent" terrorist attack.
<snip>

[StrictlyRockers]

3. (NYT) Bush Caves in on Terrorist Bill

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/20/washington/20detain.html?hp&ex=1158724800&en=466fd10d4bd27ba5&ei=5094&partner=homepage

White House Drops a Condition on Interrogation Bill
By KATE ZERNIKE
Published: September 20, 2006

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19 — Seeking a deal with Senate Republicans on the rules governing the interrogation of terrorism suspects, the White House has dropped its insistence on redefining the obligations of the United States under the Geneva Conventions, members of Congress and aides said Tuesday.

The new White House position, sent to Capitol Hill on Monday night, set off intensified negotiations between administration officials and a small group of Republican senators. The senators have blocked President Bush’s original proposal for legislation to clarify which interrogation techniques are permissible and to establish trial procedures for terrorism suspects now in United States military custody.

The two sides were said to be exchanging proposals and counterproposals late Tuesday in a showdown that could have substantial ramifications for national security policy and the political climate heading toward Election Day.

The developments suggested that the White House had blinked first in its standoff with the senators, who include John W. Warner of Virginia, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and John McCain of Arizona. But few details were available, and it was not clear whether a compromise was imminent or whether the White House had shifted its stance significantly.

Until this week, Mr. Bush had sought to address the issue through two channels. One was to clarify the limits on interrogation techniques under Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions by proposing legislation saying that the nation’s obligations under the article would be satisfied as long as it complied with the Detainee Treatment Act. That legislation was passed by Congress in December and bans “cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”
<...>


Sheesh, does this guy have enough political juice left to fix a parking ticket? How about enough political juice to convince Sen. McCain that torturing war prisoners is a great idea? Uh, you may want to consider a different tack Mr. pResident.

SR

[knowbody0]

4. thank you so much for posting this

someone must have defined "dignity" for mr bush.

[Monkeyman]

5. Only reason he wants in the first place is to save his and Rummy's butt

[MissWaverly]

6. He just wants something to attach a signing statement to

like he did the McCain Bill, whatever he promises he'll undo with the stroke of a pen
afterwards, watch him put the "clarification of the Geneva Conventions" back in thru
a signing statement. Remember this is the same man that "appointed" Bolton thru a recess
appointment instead of coming up with a better candidate. It's his way or the highway
Bush. I would not give him a bill to use as a springboard for torture, if I was in the
Senate.

[rodeodance]

7. they have not reached agreement on criminal crimes immunity.

Several issues appeared to remain in flux, among them whether the two sides could agree on language protecting C.I.A. officers from legal action for past interrogations and for any conducted in the future. Beyond the issue of interrogations, the two sides have also been at odds over the rights that should be granted to terrorism suspects during trials, in particular whether they should be able to see all evidence, including classified material, that a jury might use to convict them.

[MissWaverly]

8. the person on trial should see all evidence against him

this smacks of Joe McCarthy and his sealed envelopes

[Tellurian]

10. McCarthy, is an understated metaphor.

this smacks of Hitler and the camps.

[MissWaverly]

11. yes or the Soviets and their enemy of the state

[Tellurian]

9. I believe your assessment IS dead on!

Bush is not going to let this opportunity slip away without an alternate
plan to save himself and the rest of the WH criminals. (So he thinks!)

[MissWaverly]

12. Yes, and it will 100% what he wants, he gives nothing