John McCain last week had a choice between his principles and propping up a failed president

[NNN0LHI]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/351896_jackson20.html

Last updated February 19, 2008 5:24 p.m. PT

McCain drops the ball on torture

By DERRICK Z. JACKSON
THE BOSTON GLOBE

John McCain last week had a choice between his principles and propping up a failed president. He chose the latter.

The Senate joined the House in passing an intelligence bill that would ban the CIA from using waterboarding as an interrogation tactic. The CIA would have to abide by the Army Field Manual, which also prohibits beatings, electric or temperature shocks, forced nudity, mock executions and the use of dogs. Some of those abusive techniques were on global display in the torture photos from Abu Ghraib.

McCain, a Vietnam prisoner of war, has long condemned waterboarding as torture, making him more sensitive than President Bush on an issue that stained America's image. But the Arizona senator and virtual Republican nominee to replace Bush voted against the bill. Bush says he will veto the measure.

McCain said that while he remains opposed to waterboarding, "We always supported allowing the CIA to use extra measures."

Extra measures? Then what are rules for?

This came a week after the CIA admitted waterboarding three 9/11 suspects in 2002 and 2003. The CIA says it no longer uses the practice, and last week, Steven Bradbury, acting head of the Justice Department's Office of Legal Counsel, said, "The program as it is authorized today does not include waterboarding."

But the macabre White House maintains that while it is not currently employing waterboarding, it has the right to keep it in its arsenal of tactics. White House press secretary Dana Perino said, "We are not going to talk about what may or may not be lawful in the future." In a partisan shot across the bow, Perino was quoted by The Associated Press as saying Americans will "have to ask themselves, 'Do you trust the intelligence community more than you trust Democrats who are beholden to their left wing?' "

Americans already answered the question in a November CNN poll, with 69 percent saying waterboarding is torture and 58 percent saying the government should not use it against terrorists. Are all those Americans beholden to the left wing?

[Supersedeas]

1. finally some media analysis of the total act of cowardice

[williesgirl]

2. He of all people should be screaming @ * from the rooftops to stop this torture. rec'd

[L. Coyote]

3. AS EXPECTED !! He covered up ABRAMOFF in Fall 2004 "... propping up a failed president

[spanone]

4. we found out what we suspected - he has no principles

[Musty]

5. He's backing Bush all the way because

Bush has assured him that they can rig the election.

[Blue_In_AK]

6. John McCain is the new king of flip-flop...

It should be effortless for the Dems in the campaign season to point out his numerous position changes since 2000 when everyone regarded him so highly for his "straight talk." He's gone off the rails.

[lonestarnot]

7. As one of the Charles Keating Gang, he better figure out how to prop up his own ass.

[Elidor]

8. What principles?

He sold them long ago. He doesn't even have the pawn ticket anymore.