House Votes To Outlaw CIA Waterboarding

House votes to outlaw CIA waterboarding
WASHINGTON
(Reuters)
Defying a White House veto threat, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to outlaw harsh interrogation methods, such as simulated drowning, that the CIA has used against suspected terrorists.
The Democratic-led House of Representatives voted on Thursday to outlaw harsh interrogation methods, such as simulated drowning, that the CIA has used against suspected terrorists.
On a 222-199 vote, the House approved a measure to require intelligence agents to comply with the Army Field Manual, which meets the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of war prisoners and prohibits torture.
Many countries, U.S. lawmakers and human rights groups have accused the United States of torturing terror suspects since the September 11 attacks.
President George W. Bush says the United States does not torture, but the administration will not disclose what interrogation methods it has approved for the CIA.
In threatening to veto the House-passed measure, which now awaits Senate action, the White House argued it would prevent the United States from conducting “lawful interrogations of senior al Qaeda terrorists.”
House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer countered that the current administration had blurred the line “between legitimate, sanctioned interrogation tactics and torture.”
“There is no doubt our international reputation has suffered and been stained as a result,” Hoyer told colleagues.
Backers of harsh interrogation say it is needed to pry vital information out of enemy combatants. But critics say torture is inhumane and such information is often unreliable.
The CIA has told lawmakers they stopped waterboarding a few years ago, aides say.
The overall intelligence authorization bill that contains the interrogation provision faces another fight in the closely-divided, Democratic-led Senate.
The Army Field Manual provides 19 approved interrogation methods. They include isolating prisoners, allowing American interrogators to pose as representing another country and the “good-cop, bad-cop” interviewing technique.
It prohibits eight methods, including waterboarding.

Wild Thing’s comment……..
1) it worked and it saved lives
2) it’s been used rarely
3) Al qeada could give a crap about humane treatment
4) using it will not encourage other countries to torture our soldiers, because they already have and would have anyway.
5) And the Geneva Convention does not cover terrorists, it covers prisoners of war who are wearing the uniform of their country when captured
Any moral argument against it is countered by a moral argument against sitting there and not doing all one could to to prevent the deaths of large numbers of Americans. The bottom line is – would you rather have blood on your hands because you failed to take action known to elicit the info. to save lives.
I can think of 50 ways right off the bat that would be torture. And I wouldn’t be opposed to outright torture of these Isamonuts.
I am tired of tour country pandering to terrorists. Our American government officials continue to work against the safety of the public. They continue to support the activities of sworn murderers and our enemies who are devoted to killing us. They continue to kiss our enemies asses. They continue to work to destroy the republic.
Our islamic jihadist enemies certainly don’t limit themselves from employing any and every kind of torture imaginable. They’re laughing their butts off right now over this one.
When are these politicians going to condemn the treatment our soldiers and citizens receive from Al Queda.
IMO the Dems and rino’s already have blood on their hands. How many soldiers have died because the enemy was emboldened by the actions of the Dems and their kiss ups.
The House should stay out of the business of our Warriors!