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Will Bush Bend on Terror Legislation?

by Pamela Leavey

Is it possible that Bush will bend on his “terror” legislation, or is this just a ploy until he gets it passed and then he can do the quickie revise with another one of his famous signing statements?

The White House said Monday it was revising its proposal for dealing with terrorism suspects as indications grew that President Bush’s plan was meeting increased resistance among Republicans in both chambers of Congress.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino said the administration was sending the new language in hopes of reaching an agreement. A revolt by GOP senators, who have written their own proposal giving terror detainees more rights than the administration wants, has embarrassed the White House at a time when Republicans want to use their security policies as a main platform in November’s congressional elections.

“Our commitment to finding a resolution is strong,” Perino said.

AP reports that “three more GOP senators said they now opposed the administration’s version, joining the four Republicans who had already come out against it.” That sure doesn’t bode well for BushCo.

If all 44 Democrats plus the chamber’s Democratic-leaning independent also vote for the alternative by Sen. John Warner (news, bio, voting record), R-Va., as expected, that would give it a majority in the 100-member Senate.

In a further hint of problems for the administration, House officials said their chamber was postponing a vote planned for Wednesday on a bill mirroring Bush’s proposal.

Republican officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they have encountered resistance and were no longer certain they had enough votes to push the measure to passage through the GOP-run House.

It’s absolutely wonderful to see the Republican’s chomping at the bit against each other, imploding on the BushCo Torture code. The Guardian UK reports on the “tough interrogation techniques the CIA wants to use.” They include:

  • hypothermia;
  • forcing suspects to stand for prolonged periods; sleep deprivation;
  • a technique called “the attention grab” where a suspect’s shirt is forcefully seized;
  • the “attention slap” or open hand slapping that hurts but does not lead to physical damage;
  • the “belly slap”; and sound and light manipulation.
  • Booman has more on the techniques here. There’s nothing pretty about any of these, as Human Rights Watch has verified.

    One Response to “Will Bush Bend on Terror Legislation?”

    1. Opposition to what the administration wants to do in regards to interrogations is bound to increase today as this story breaks:

      http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14897315/

      I anticipate GWB’s speech at the UN today will bomb out bigtime, especially after this story hits the fan.