Reply #10: What would prevent them from... [View All]

[I_Will]

..."updating" a document that has been rendered "quaint and obsolete"?

McCain says so much:

First...
"The Army Field Manual and its various editions have served America well, through wars against both regular and irregular foes. It embodies the values Americans have embraced for generations, while preserving the ability of our interrogators to extract critical intelligence from ruthless foes."

...OK, sounds substantial and noble and chivalrous. But then he goes on to outline the loophole with a bright yellow highlighter:

"The Manual has been developed by the Executive Branch for its own uses, and a new edition, written to take into account the needs of the war on terror and with a new classified annex, is due to be issued soon. My amendment would not set the Field Manual in stone – it could be changed at any time. "

More fox in the hen house? McCain gets applause for the first sound byte, but the very ones who have fomented the culture that requires such a rebuke are the very ones in charge of keeping the "rulebook" in line with the (seeming) spirit of McCain's words!?

hmmm