Congress Adopts Restriction on Treatment of Detainees

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON, May 10 - Congress barred the government on Tuesday from using any money in a newly passed emergency spending bill to subject anyone in American custody to torture or "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" that is forbidden by the Constitution.

Drafted since the disclosure of abuses in Afghanistan and Iraq and at Guantánamo Bay in Cuba, it lays out a definition of illegal treatment that human rights groups say is broader than the Bush administration's current interpretation, and links the ban directly to military spending.

"This sends a clear message to our own government that certain conduct is simply unacceptable," Senator Richard J. Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who sponsored the provision, said in an interview. "And it reminds the world that what happened at the Abu Ghraib prison is not American policy and is not tolerated."
...
Representative Edward J. Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat who sponsored a version of the provision in the House, said that in his view the measure effectively banned renditions if military financing provided by the bill was involved. Other officials said the issue was not so clear-cut.

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/11/politics/11torture.html?ex=1273464000&en=7e633c83ee45f6ee&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

[bemildred]

1. Who is going to enforce this butt covering bullshit? nt

[Rose Siding]

2. Probably no one in this One Party Govt

*But* the WH opposed this last year. For Durbin and Markey to get it through would have taken some real tap dancing on some republican "hearts".

WHEN the tables are turned, we will be on the side of the angels.

[Rex]

3. Yes it is American policy! Those soldiers who tortured Iraqis will always

be seen as representatives of America policy by foreigners! The damage is done, it didn't help that the Dems voted for Bush to have all these war powers in the first place! OTOH, it's refreshing to see a Dem step up and shame the WH. Good job Durbin & Markey! Way to look out for The Peoples butts!

:yourock: