ENDING THE TORTURE REGIME…. Last February, congressional Democrats attempted to add a provision to funding for the nation’s intelligence agencies, forcing the intelligence community to abide by the same interrogation standards articulated in the Army Field Manual, which, of course, prohibit torture. Bush and congressional Republicans balked, and the law wasn’t changed.
Fairly soon, Barack Obama won’t have to wait for Congress to send him the provision again, he’ll just make the necessary fix himself.
President-elect Barack Obama is preparing to prohibit the use of waterboarding and harsh interrogation techniques by ordering the CIA to follow military rules for questioning prisoners, according to two U.S. officials familiar with drafts of the plans.
The proposal Obama is considering would require all CIA interrogators to follow conduct outlined in the U.S. Army Field Manual, the officials said.
The plans would also have the effect of shutting down secret “black site” prisons around the world where the CIA has questioned terror suspects — with all future interrogations taking place inside American military facilities.
Obama said over the weekend that “part of our broader national security strategy” is to “send a message to the world that we are serious about our values.” I guess he meant it.
