McCain, White House at impasse over detainee treatment

[Rhiannon12866]

Wednesday, December 14, 2005 Posted: 1522 GMT (2322 HKT)

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Sen. John McCain and President Bush's national security adviser remained at an impasse Wednesday over the senator's proposed ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of foreign terrorism suspects.

"At this point, discussions are ongoing," national security adviser Stephen Hadley told The Associated Press as he left McCain's Capitol Hill office after a meeting that lasted just over an hour.

"We continue to chat," McCain, R-Arizona, said just before meeting with Hadley. The senator spent five years as a prisoner while serving in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.

The ban on mistreatment of prisoners, and another provision standardizing the interrogation techniques used by U.S. troops, have stalled two defense bills in Congress, including a must-pass wartime spending measure.

House and Senate negotiators want to complete the bills before adjourning for the year. But GOP leaders are waiting for the results of talks between McCain and the White House before moving forward.

A compromise could come this week, but a deal remained elusive Wednesday.

http://edition.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/12/14/congress.detainees.ap/index.html

[SpiralHawk]

1. "I want my torture." - George Skull & Boner Bush

as usual.

Throw the bum out.

[texpatriot2004]

2. but * just told Brian Williams that they agreed and were working

together on this...(Sarcasm On)

* is a F-ing liar!

[babylonsister]

3. I find it incredible that this is even an issue.

Makes me feel really proud of my government.:sarcasm: :sarcasm:

[bpilgrim]

5. DON'T PANIC! - Pentagon Plans Massive $300 MILLION Propaganda Campaign

Pentagon Plans Massive Propaganda Campaign
"A $300 million Pentagon psychological warfare operation includes plans for placing pro-American messages in foreign media outlets without disclosing the U.S. government as the source," USA Today reports.

"Run by psychological warfare experts at the U.S. Special Operations Command, the media campaign is being designed to counter terrorist ideology and sway foreign audiences to support American policies. The military wants to fight the information war against al-Qaeda through newspapers, websites, radio, television and 'novelty items' such as T-shirts and bumper stickers."

"The program will operate throughout the world, including in allied nations and in countries where the United States is not involved in armed conflict."
http://www.politicalwire.com /

Pentagon rolls out stealth PR
By Matt Kelley, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — A $300 million Pentagon psychological warfare operation includes plans for placing pro-American messages in foreign media outlets without disclosing the U.S. government as the source, one of the military officials in charge of the program says.

more...

peace

[ninkasi]

6. It makes me want to scream...

Instead of massive propaganda campaigns, and sending Karen Hughes stomping through the world bellowing Dubya's non-existent virtues ,why don't we just, like, stop meddling in other country's business? They refuse to consider that their policies might be flawed. Instead, it's just a matter of the right PR, the right message, according to Bushco. He failed as a CEO and businessman, he's a colossal failure as president. The rest are just greedy, power hungry ghouls, and sadistic sociopaths, like Rumsfeld and Cheney.

I want them impeached, and now. I want us out of Iraq, and for us to concentrate on rebuilding our abandoned Gulf Coast I want universal health care here, and a lot of other things, but we can't even think about getting any good done here, until the Republican party is out of power.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Beautiful rant, and I agree with you completely.

It's as if you were channeling my thoughts. Thank you.:-)

[cliss]

8. Very persuasive post,

and I must agree with you.

Old Whistle Ass needs to go.

[Fridays Child]

4. I wonder where McCain would stand on this issue, had he not been a POW.

Call me cynical but I don't think John McCain is particularly sensitive to the suffering of others. If it weren't for the fact that he can personally relate to this issue, I doubt that he'd give a damn. And, if he runs in '08 I bet he'll use it to court moderate and centrist Democratic support. Yeah, I'm glad he's taken up the cause but, for whatever it's worth, I don't trust the man, at all.