NOTHING CONCENTRATES THE MIND...

McCain draws criticism on torture bill (Michael Cooper, February 17, 2008, NY Times)

McCain, who was tortured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, has led the battle in recent years on a number of bills to end torture by the United States. He said he voted against the bill Wednesday because legislation he had helped to pass already prohibits the CIA from "cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment."

McCain, of Arizona, said he believed it would be a mistake to limit CIA interrogators to using only those techniques that were enumerated in the Field Manual, which he noted was a public document.

"When we passed the Military Commissions Act, we said that the CIA should have the ability to use additional techniques," McCain told reporters Friday in Oshkosh, Wisconsin "None of those techniques would entail violating the Detainee Treatment Act, which said that cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment are prohibited."

...like the prospect that one will get to be the hangman in the morning.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 17, 2008 9:30 AM