Obama to prohibit waterboarding and will shut down "black site" prisons around the world...

[cynatnite]

WASHINGTON – President-elect Barack Obama is preparing to prohibit the use of waterboarding and harsh interrogation techniques by ordering the CIA to follow military rules for questioning prisoners, according to two U.S. officials familiar with drafts of the plans.

The proposal Obama is considering would require all CIA interrogators to follow conduct outlined in the U.S. Army Field Manual, the officials said. The plans would also have the effect of shutting down secret "black site" prisons around the world where the CIA has questioned terror suspects — with all future interrogations taking place inside American military facilities.

However, Obama's changes may not be absolute. His advisers are considering adding a classified loophole to the rules that could allow the CIA to use some interrogation methods not specifically authorized by the Pentagon, the officials said.

The new rules would abandon a part of President George W. Bush's counterterrorism policy that has been condemned internationally.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090116/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_interrogations

[Solly Mack]

1. .

"His advisers are considering adding a classified loophole to the rules that could allow the CIA to use some interrogation methods not specifically authorized by the Pentagon"

[TheKentuckian]

2. If the scenario is so dire that torture is required then that's what pardons are for

we do not need to codify exceptions for what even the most hawkish say are extremely rare, if ever events.

If "Jack Bauer" has to go beyond the pale to save LA from a nuke then I'm sure whoever is President will make sure he doesn't go down for saving the country. The entire argument is a retarded ass strawman.

[readmoreoften]

3. "Classified loopholes" would make it nothing but showboating. He needs to come down hard and

make arrests to show that he's serious. "Shutting down" sites that are off the map to all civilians and politicians 99.999% of the military doesn't mean anything if there are loopholes allowing these sites to actually still exist and do what they do. Having people think that they've actually shut down when they haven't will be more deadly to the people buried alive inside them then having a public who questions.

He needs to come down HARD with real consequences. This MUST be more than speechifying and good intentions. There is no baby steps with this one.

[IsItJustMe]

7. I agree with your sentiment. If he leaves the door open, then it will occur again and again.

[mdmc]

4. perhaps he can say they are closed

but keep them open...

Sure it would still be Change...

No need to look back..bush did nothing wrong..why even close them at all..why hate merica? Protect us from the terrorist by torturing...

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

9. Oh, shut up. n/t

[mdmc]

10. yes sir

sorry to offend/write lame stuff/fail to toe the line/peace and low stress

[BuyingThyme]

5. There's always room for loopholing.

[merh]

6. Fuck that "However..."

Rule of law is the rule of law, all policies should be about carrying out the oath of office, to protect and defend the Constitution.

[NNN0LHI]

8. This is why he needed a non-spook in charge of the goons at the CIA

Any ex-spook wouldn't have even told Obama where these sites are located.

Don