Hi Shifty -
Its getting to be a long thread, but yes, somewhere back there I was called on use of the word "torture" by Yeager, and I agreed it was probably not a good word to use, and that it was unfair.
Here are excerpts of McCain's statement regarding his amendment:
...Let me begin by noting that the Army Field Manual and its various editions have served America well, through wars against both regular and irregular foes. The Manual embodies the values Americans have embraced for generations, while preserving the ability of our interrogators to extract critical intelligence from ruthless foes. Never has this been more important than today, in the midst of the war on terror.
To fight terrorism it is obvious that we must obtain intelligence, but we have to ensure that it is reliable and acquired in a way that is humane. To do otherwise not only offends our national morals, but undermines our efforts to protect the nation’s security. Abuse of prisoners harms – not helps – us in the war on terror, because inevitably these abuses become public. When they do, the cruel actions of a few darken the reputation of our honorable country in the eyes of millions. Mistreatment of our prisoners also endangers U.S. service members who might be captured by the enemy – if not in this war, then in the next.
The Army Field Manual authorizes interrogation techniques that have proven effective in extracting life-saving information from the most hardened enemy prisoners. It also recognizes that torture and cruel treatment are ineffective methods, because they induce prisoners to say what their interrogators want to hear, even if it is not true, while bringing discredit upon the United States....
The amendment I am offering would establish the Army Field Manual as the standard for interrogation of all detainees held in DOD custody....
Mr. President, let me just close by noting that I hold no brief for the prisoners. I do hold a brief for the reputation of the United States of America. We are Americans, and we hold ourselves to humane standards of treatment of people no matter how evil or terrible they may be. To do otherwise, as I have noted, undermines our security, but it also undermines our greatness as a nation. We are not simply any other country. We stand for something more in the world – a moral mission, one of freedom and democracy and human rights at home and abroad. We are better than these terrorists, and we will we win. The enemy we fight has no respect for human life or human rights. They don’t deserve our sympathy. But this isn’t about who they are. This is about who we are. These are the values that distinguish us from our enemies.
I cannot put it any better than that. Here is the
link to the full text of his address. I cannot for the life of me understand how any reasonable American could be opposed to this - unless the opposition originates from a misunderstanding. If that's case I hope this clears it up.
Regarding Carla Faye Tucker and the death penalty - I am not against the death penalty. In fact in many cases I wish it was carried out more swiftly and surely. What I objected strongly to was Bush's public
mocking of her request for a stay - complete with a scrunched up face imitating her distress. I found such a display far beneath the dignity of a public official, devoid of the mercy or compassion one might reasonably expect from someone who has committed his heart to Jesus Christ. I didn't say that she should not have been executed. I read Bush's statement about his decision to continue with her execution and I didn't fault him for what he said there - only for the immature, childish and cruel imitation he did of her in response to her request to be spared.
