Originally published February 23 2006
McCain torture amendment has two problems, columnist says
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Terrell E. Arnold of rense.com writes that the torture law Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) is trying to pass has two main problems. One problem is that the Pentagon has revised the Army Field Manual to include a variety of new interrogation methods.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, on December 14, by a vote of 308 to 122, the House of Representatives approved a resolution supporting Senator John McCain's effort to make torture of prisoners against US law.
While the White House had threatened that President Bush would veto the appropriations bill if it came to him with the McCain language in it, on December 15, the President and Senator McCain agreed that the amendment would not be vetoed.
Second, the amendment establishes that no prisoner of whatever nationality "in the custody or under the physical control of the United States Government" shall be subjected to "cruel, inhuman or degrading" treatment at the hands of any American official or agent that is prohibited by the Fifth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution or that are inconsistent with the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
The McCain language prohibits abuse of prisoners in US custody, but it is silent on the issue of extraordinary rendition, here defined as the surrender of prisoners by any government or agency to contractors or other governments for interrogation by torture and harsh confinement.
*Is terrorism a sufficient threat to warrant such severe distortions of American law and practice?
Present US law provides appropriate procedures for extraordinary measures that may be justified, but he chooses not to apply those procedures.
Presidential approval or leadership that results in laxity in observing the McCain Amendment, even if it were flawless, probably means that torture, call it extreme interrogation, will go on.
Any reduction of that prospect would require that President Bush live up to his oath of office, diligently observe and assure application of US laws and treaties that have the force of law.
He is author, co-author and editor of five books, including a collection of essays titled _A World Less Safe_ now available at Amazon.com and Booksurge Publishing.
All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing LLC takes sole responsibility for all content. Truth Publishing sells no hard products and earns no money from the recommendation of products. NaturalNews.com is presented for educational and commentary purposes only and should not be construed as professional advice from any licensed practitioner. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. For the full terms of usage of this material, visit www.NaturalNews.com/terms.shtml