Battle in Bush administration over interrogation techniques

[babylonsister]

Battle in Bush administration over interrogation techniques

Moderates in the government are mounting one more drive to roll back many of the harsh detention and questioning policies pushed through by Vice President Dick Cheney.

By Julian E. Barnes
November 12, 2008


Reporting from Washington -- As the clock runs down on the Bush administration, moderates within the government are mounting what may be one last drive to roll back many of the harsh detention and interrogation policies pushed through by Vice President Dick Cheney.

The effort, led by officials at the State Department, represents the latest battle in a war between hard-liners and moderates that has raged though most of the Bush administration.

In the early years of George W. Bush's presidency, Cheney and his allies won most of the internal contests over the Guantanamo Bay prison, the CIA's interrogation program, domestic spying, military commissions and other contentious issues.

But internal critics -- including the State Department's legal advisor, John B. Bellinger III -- fought against those efforts. Buoyed by congressional action and court rulings, the moderates in recent years have helped break down administration resistance to international agreements and standards. The latest push underscores how deeply unpopular the most hawkish White House stances have proved to be even within the administration itself.

President-elect Barack Obama is likely to favor the internal critics' proposals. But the Bush administration moderates want to push the changes through before Obama takes over, in hope of undoing some of the damage they believe has been done.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-postcheney12-2008nov12,0,6783769.story?track=rss

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. Save your Ass positions are now taken after 7 years of breaking the law

Can't wait until people start talking to Sy Hersh after January 20th.
They know that they participated in war crimes.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. Can Bush issue pre-emptive pardons?

More than ever do I believe that there needs to be a MASSIVE "perp walk" from the Bush WH

[annabanana]

3. The B*sh Admin is stained for all time, no matter what happens now..

I want the SOONEST, EARLIEST changes possible.. I don't care WHO proposes it, as long as it goes through.

[Captain Hilts]

4. Too little, too late. nt