Why has Congress failed to outlaw waterboarding?

[cwo_ghwebb]

Sen. Patrick Leahy (D., Vt.) wants a commission that will get to the "truth" about torture. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) says she wants a truth commission too. And so does Rep. John Conyers (D., Mich.).
On CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Mr. Leahy said a truth commission would help get to the heart of how the recently released memos on CIA interrogation techniques were drafted. "I want to know why they did that," he said. "What kind of pressures brought them to write things that are so off the wall and to make sure it never happens again. That's why I want [a Truth Commission]."

Mr. Leahy overlooks a small point here: Under our Constitution, the truth commission is supposed to be Congress.

Our Founders didn't look to outsource our most controversial public issues to appointees. They established institutions and arrangements that would hold those who have power accountable to the American people. And when the people's lawmakers believed the people's president was misinterpreting the law, the Founders expected the former to stand up and do something about it.

Over the past few years, the Democrats have moved to ban waterboarding only when it was clear that such a bill would not pass -- or would be vetoed by George W. Bush. In September 2006, Sen. Edward Kennedy introduced an amendment to the Military Commissions Act that would have effectively defined waterboarding as a war crime, and it was defeated largely along partisan lines. In February 2008, when Democrats were in control of Congress, they made a big fuss about sending a bill that would have limited interrogation to techniques found in the Army field manual.

They did so knowing President Bush would veto it, and that he had the votes to sustain that veto.

Today the Democrats have an even larger majority -- plus a president who would sign such legislation. So why the call for a truth commission instead? The answer is a nasty one: If Congress made waterboarding illegal now, they would be making clear that it was not illegal before.

McGurn: Torture and the Truth Commission - WSJ.com

Your move Nancy.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Because they know waterboarding isn't torture in context of what we've done with it and when and why and how.

[glhs837]

But the moonbats must be appeased, or they wont send dollars. So, we makes with the loud noise, and the big flashy lights, and the moonbats think we are doing something, and we wait til the next crisis looms, and let this drop off the radar.

[ImnoMensa]

Originally Posted by cwo_ghwebb

McGurn: Torture and the Truth Commission - WSJ.com

Your move Nancy.

I can see the truth commission now. Called to order by Chairperson Cynthia McKinney, with Secretary Bernadine Dohrn taking the minutes and the Right Rev. Jeremiah giving the invocation. The first order of business will be a motion from Bill Ayres to set the agenda by first saying that it goes without saying that Dick Cheney and George Bush are guilty. Now who else can we hang?

[Rosehaven]

I sure hope Congress can stay out of this or---if they have to get into it--have closed door hearings. There's more at stake here than just a definition of torture....which is probably needed.

[chernmax (Premo)]

I love this process, the far left did this to clearly embarrass Bush and when they sat back to light those big fat Cigars they failed to realize most had loaders in them!!!

Originally Posted by ImnoMensa

I can see the truth commission now. Called to order by Chairperson Cynthia McKinney, with Secretary Bernadine Dohrn taking the minutes and the Right Rev. Jeremiah giving the invocation. The first order of business will be a motion from Bill Ayres to set the agenda by first saying that it goes without saying that Dick Cheney and George Bush are guilty. Now who else can we hang?

What was that committee that ran France during the Revolution .....

[Bigpops92]

Funny how waterboarding is considered torture in the eyes of Congress....but yet we use the same method for teaching our own service members.

I know I didn't. I wasn't happy....but sure didn't feel tortured.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Bigpops92

Funny how waterboarding is considered torture in the eyes of Congress....but yet we use the same method for teaching our own service members.

I know I didn't. I wasn't happy....but sure didn't feel tortured.

Are you a member of congress? No? Well, then who are you to say what is or is not torture, huh?

[cwo_ghwebb]

This entire argument is how to criminalize political dissent.


Should I put that in small words for nonno?