House Bill Likely to Contain Torture Ban

[Eugene]

House Bill Likely to Contain Torture Ban


Wednesday December 7, 2005 1:01 PM

AP Photo WCAP103

By LIZ SIDOTI

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - A ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of
foreign terrorism suspects is likely to be included mostly, if not
entirely, in a final defense bill, a key House Republican said
Tuesday.

Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, who is leading negotiations to iron
out differences between the House and Senate versions of the measure,
said if the ban or another provision limiting interrogation techniques
U.S. troops can use are changed, they won't be drastically watered
down.

"Nobody wants to do that," Hunter, the House Armed Services Committee
chairman, said in an interview. "I expect a good outcome for all
parties."

The White House opposes the provisions and has threatened to veto any
bill containing them. But President Bush's national security adviser,
Stephen Hadley, has been negotiating with the chief sponsor, Sen.
John McCain, R-Ariz., to find a compromise that would satisfy Bush
administration's concerns.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5463044,00.html

[Che_Nuevara]

1. It's a ploy to get Democrats to support the new defense bill.

Otherwise they would introduce it on its own.