Leahy ‘very concerned’ with Mukasey’s answer on waterboarding

[babylonsister]

Leahy ‘very concerned’ with Mukasey’s answer on waterboarding
By Alexander Bolton
October 30, 2007

Michael Mukasey attempted to advance his stalled nomination for attorney general Tuesday by giving Congress a written statement discussing the legality of waterboarding, an interrogation technique that simulates drowning.

Mukasey submitted a four-page legalistic discussion that did not give Democrats what they were demanding: a succinct statement on whether waterboarding is akin to torture.

As a result, growing Democratic opposition to Mukasey’s nomination is not likely to die down.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who has jurisdiction over the nomination, said that Mukasey’s letter did not satisfy his concerns.

“Based on an initial review of his response to the letter, I remain very concerned that Judge Mukasey finds himself unable to state unequivocally that waterboarding is illegal and below the standards and values of the United States,” said Leahy.

more...

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/leahy-very-concerned-with-mukaseys-answer-on-waterboarding-2007-10-30.html

[Bumblebee]

1. Don't hold your breath. He will be confirmed. The so-called waivering GOP,

both of them, are now satisfied, and he will probably have at least three Dem votes, or even more. Cheney will not be denied.

[gratuitous]

2. Why are we having this discussion at all?

You know, I used to remember living in a country where we condemned torture, and although it wasn't perfect, we at least used to say we were against torture. Now, here we are having a serious discussion about various torture techniques and just how legal or illegal they might be.

This is just fucking ridiculous, and people who can't quite decide whether torture needs to be part of the official policy of the United States don't belong in our government.