Hill Democrats Wait for Obama Stance on Interrogation Standards

[babylonsister]

Hill Democrats Wait for Obama Stance on Interrogation Standards
By Tim Starks, CQ Staff


Top Democrats on congressional intelligence panels could be heading for conflict with President-elect Barack Obama over interrogation policies, a subject over which they often clashed with President Bush.

Obama said earlier this year he supported legislation that would have mandated that the CIA and other agencies subscribe to a 2006 Army field manual’s guidelines on interrogation practices, which would have the effect of banning harsh treatment of detainees such as waterboarding. But some media reports have raised questions about whether Obama would use his executive powers to mandate the same interrogation standards once he is in the White House.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein , D-Calif., one of Congress’ leading proponents of banning harsh interrogation methods, is expected to take over the gavel at the Intelligence Committee.

“Sen. Feinstein intends to introduce legislation that would require America’s intelligence agencies to follow the Army field manual in interrogations; to prohibit the use of contractors in interrogations; to grant the International Committee of the Red Cross access to detainees; and to close the Guantánamo Bay detention facility within one year,” said a spokesman, Phil LaVelle. “If President Obama accomplishes these goals through executive action, then we won’t need to pursue them legislatively as well.”

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http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000002986514

[midnight]

1. I HOPE we will not be told that everything needs to stay the same

in order to prevent terrorist from winning.

[babylonsister]

2. The CQ banner I didn't post is this:

Conflict May be Looming on Interrogation Standards

Top Democrats on congressional intelligence panels could be heading for conflict with President-elect Barack Obama over interrogation policies, a subject over which they often clashed with President Bush.

I'm with you. In my mind, there is right and wrong. Let's hope we can reverse the wrong that has been going on without Dems getting in the way. We already know the rethugs will be pushing back.