BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

On February 13, 2008, the Congress passed what is known as the Intelligence Authorization Act.  The bill prohibits the use of waterboarding as a means of interrogation.  Instead, it required the military to follow the standards of the Army Field Manual. 

According to a report from Democracy Now

Approval of the measure would effectively outlaw the use of several CIA techniques many have described as torture. The Army manual specifically bans waterboarding, mock executions, the use of electric shocks, beatings, forcing prisoners to perform sexual acts and depriving prisoners of necessary food, water or medical care. President Bush says the Army rules are too restrictive.

We know what it means when President Bush disagrees.  He pulls out the old “VETO” stamp.  That’s exactly what he is expected to do this week or early next week.  The arrived at the White House today.

It’s amazing that the Senate and House managed to get the bill through.  They have agreed on so little without an amendment added over the past year.  It must be said that Attorney Michael Mukasey has said that he was unable to determine if waterboarding was or was not torture.  That’s scary. 

But, more notably, John McCain, Republican nominee for President, who has made so many statements against waterboarding, openly declaring during a Republican debate that waterboarding could be called nothing but torture.  He went on to say we were better than that.  Yet, when the vote came to the Senate floor to establish the anti-torture bill, John McCain voted against the bill.  I have to question Senator McCain’s sincerity on the subject.  It’s not what he says, but what he does.  And, he voted against the bill that would prohibit waterboarding and other means of torture. 

So, this week or early next week, it is expected that Bush will VETO the bill.  If John McCain should happen to be elected to the Oval Office, it looks as if he will stand behind the veto.  And, waterboarding will be a legal means of interrogation.