Isn’t it fascinating that Bush needs absolute power over detainees. This President can’t stand any

interference or oversight. He’s worked very hard to distort the sacred “checks and balances” to absolute authority for the executive. He

might as well wish to be a dictator. mjh

Us soldiers barred from torture By Liz Sidoti

The US Senate delivered

a rare wartime rebuke to President George W Bush on Thursday by explicitly barring American soldiers from torturing or

maltreating prisoners. …

New strict US military interrogation guidelines were passed overwhelmingly by 90 votes

to nine in the Republican-controlled Senate despite White House opposition.

The senators approved an amendment that prohibits

“cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment” against anyone in US government custody, regardless of where they are held.

The proposal was sponsored by Republican Senator John McCain, who was held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.

It requires

all US military members to follow procedures in the Army Field Manual when they detain and interrogate terrorism suspects.

Bush administration officials say the legislation will limit the president’s authority and flexibility in war.

House GOP May Try to Weaken Detainee

Rules By LIZ SIDOTI

WASHINGTON — Leading House Republicans signaled Friday that they will try to weaken a Senate

effort to limit interrogation techniques that U.S. service members can use on terrorism suspects.

Their remarks made

clear that the language in the Senate-passed military spending bill faces uncertain prospects in bargaining between the Senate and House.

…

The White House said in a statement that advisers would recommend a veto of the spending bill if it includes language that

would hurt efforts in the war on terror by limiting the president’s authority and flexibility. Last summer, Vice President Dick Cheney

came to Capitol Hill to pressure McCain, Warner and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., to drop the effort.