Waterboarding

[Pathless]

Originally Posted by Tao_Equus

Dont hold back buddy... let rip at that sick mutha

Originally Posted by seattlegal

Don't be shy, P-nut.

Oh, I had just posted this picture of me reviling the calendar in the study here, in the spirit of things:




Post restored.

[Paladin]

Senator Allard responded to my email.

Dear Mark:

Thank you for contacting my office regarding the practice of waterboarding as an interrogation technique. I appreciate you taking the time to write on this matter.

As you know, the incidents of torture and abuse of military detainees captured in the Global War on Terror continue to make headlines in the media. Such acts are despicable and deplorable and are not representative of our armed forces.
Those who have committed such acts in the past have violated more than the policies for interrogation, they have rejected the very values this nation holds dear.

Congress recently passed the Intelligence Authorization Act of 2008. This bill contained language to ban waterboarding and other harsh interrogation methods that have been used by the Central Intelligence Agency. The ban would limit all American interrogators to techniques permitted in the Army Field Manual on Interrogation. Among the techniques specifically barred by the manual is waterboarding.

While reauthorization of our intelligence programs is needed for our nation to continue to protect its citizens, I am concerned about certain provisions and believe that too many unanswered questions exist due to the changes made by the Conference Committee.

The final version of the bill applies the standards for interrogation set from the Army Field Manuel, a document intended for the U.S. Army, not the intelligence community. Essentially, we are applying one standard to two different agencies with very different objectives. Neither the House nor the Senate passed this provision when the bill was originally debated last year and it was instead inserted in the conference report. This is too important to not debate openly and completely. Further, this language is unclear about whether this bill freezes provisions within the Army Field Manuel, and whether this will prohibit the Army from changing its own polices.

Clearly I do not support torture. That being said, the United States should exhaust all the tools available to defend our self when it comes to questioning people who intend to harm our nation. I fear that limiting the interrogators to techniques outlined in the Army Field Manual would seriously undermine American intelligence-gathering efforts.

Again, thank you for writing to express your concerns. If you would like more information regarding this and other issues important to Colorado, please visit my website at <a href="http://allard.senate.gov/public/">http://allard.senate.gov/public/</a>


Sincerely,
A
Wayne Allard
United States Senator

[seattlegal]

Originally Posted by Paladin

Senator Allard responded to my email.

Why does the thread Ethics Vs Morals come to mind in connection to this?

[Pathless]

More virtual action, for what it's worth:

Originally Posted by Amnesty International

On Saturday, with a single stroke of his veto pen, President Bush blocked a tough law forbidding the CIA from using waterboarding and other despicable interrogation "techniques." Some of these are the same techniques that were used at the now infamous detention centers at Guantánamo Bay.

Act now: tear down Bush's detention center at Guantanamo Bay.

With his veto, Bush not only justified the use of torture by the CIA but reserved the right to continue to prosecute people based on evidence obtained through torture at military commissions trials in Guantánamo. Guantánamo Bay is the most visible representation of all that is wrong with these policies.

Don't let Bush have the last word: tear down a piece of Guantánamo.

We must show that Bush does not represent the vast majority of American citizens. This starts with each and every one of us taking a stand. With spirited protests all across the country, we're going to make it clear that our nation abhors what our President condones.
Join Amnesty International by striking a fatal blow to the Administration's failed policies in the war on terror. Let's tear down Guantánamo now.
Sincerely,

Larry Cox
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA

[Paladin]

One less pixel

[seattlegal]

House of Representatives Sustains Waterboarding Veto

[Tao_Equus]

I saw Bush give a speech on TV yesterday to some economic group. The BBC only gave us a flash glimpse of one person in the audience and guess who it was... puppet master in chief Kissinger. What I dont get is why this guy is not exposed for what he is over there.

Tao

[kiwimac]

Unacceptable. Torture is simply not the response of a civilised nation.

[Muslimwoman]

Originally Posted by Paladin

Senator Allard responded to my email.

I love this bit (isn't that the same as saying BUT):

Clearly I do not support torture. That being said, the United States should exhaust all the tools available to defend our self when it comes to questioning people who intend to harm our nation.

[kiwimac]

indeed.

[Operacast]

Originally Posted by Muslimwoman

I love this bit (isn't that the same as saying BUT):

Clearly I do not support torture. That being said, the United States should exhaust all the tools available to defend our self when it comes to questioning people who intend to harm our nation.

And when Senator Allard goes on to say "I fear that limiting the interrogators to techniques outlined in the Army Field Manual would seriously undermine American intelligence-gathering efforts."

-- and Mr. Allard, I fear that discarding Field Manual limits on all interrogations would FURTHER DISHONOR

M Y

C O U N T R Y --

Senator.

How do you like them apples?:-(