Denounce Torture

USA Today comments on Senator John McCain's proposed amendment to a military spending bill. McCain, R-Ariz, who suffered five and a half years of torture and solitary confinement during the Vietnam war, has introduced an amendment that would ban 'cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment':

"McCain's insight offers lessons for U.S. conduct in the war on terror: Abusing prisoners elicits intelligence of questionable worth. It also unquestionably undercuts American values and produces international revulsion.

"...McCain is pushing an amendment to a military-spending bill that would ban "cruel, inhuman and degrading" interrogations. The Republican-controlled Senate passed the amendment, 90-9.

"Not only should Congress adopt the McCain amendment, but it also should spurn any exemptions for the CIA. That request came from Vice President Cheney, who doesn't want to tie the hands of U.S. operatives abroad. The CIA has reportedly been running a shadowy "renditions" program that sends al-Qaeda suspects for questioning in countries noted for brutality."

And in Lansing, Michigan, the State House passes a unanimous vote to ban torture:

"A torture conviction would mean a lifetime prison sentence under the legislation, which now goes to the Senate[...]Rep. Mike Nofs, R-Battle Creek, introduced the bill.

"The bills approved today deliver a clear message to those who abuse others that this heinous type of crime has serious consequences," Nofs said in a written statement."

See "Clueless about torture," and  "House approves bill criminalizing torture."