The American Prospect
by Michael Roston

10/12/05

So Republican senators have finally stood up to President Bush. At least, that’s what people said when Senator John McCain and 45 of his fellow Republicans approved a McCain-sponsored amendment intended to eliminate the abuse of detainees. The legislation, which passed in a 90-9 vote on October 6, even drew the support of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who said, in a letter to McCain, that the legislation 'will help deal with the terrible public diplomacy crisis created' by the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Not so fast. However much McCain might want to stop the abusive practices, his bill will not reduce the use of torture by agents of the United States engaged in the global war on terrorism. Nor will it help America's image abroad. The legislation will not end the Bush administration's shadow war, which includes the use of torture as a tool...

http://www.prospect.org/web/view-web.ww?id=1040


Informant: Thomas L. Knapp