Re: The John McCain Bill
Since when do we judge someone guilty before we prove the guilt? When you condone torture of someone because of "suspecting" them as a terrorist, is not sufficient evidence. Think of the Salem witch hunts. I think I heard Lubedude talking that he was expectign a payment from OBL. Does that provide enough "suspicion" to whisk him off to a secret priosn and torture him because I suspect him?<br /><br />If you have an open mind you will see my point and how it can be abused. I do not propose we pamper these suspects. I also agree that the burden of proof should be lessened from what we require for US citizens. But I do disagree with the proposition that torture is acceptable. In limited, well deliberated situations for truly dangerous captives maybe, but "just because" is deplorable and beneath us as Americans, IMO.<br /><br />And to invest this much effort in outlawing something that is already illegal is just plain silly. However, there is evidence to make one question if the current administration has reduced itself to this illegal behavior. And that should be enough to make self-respecting Americans upset with their governement. If it is illegal, it is not OK for the government to engage in the behavior because they "think" it is necessary. It is illegal, perhaps that is why McCain felt it necessary to introduce a bill, for public awareness. Not for himself, but to drive home to the administration that this is against the law and therefore is not to be tolerated. <br /><br />If indeed torture is necessary in the war on terror, then perhaps the bush administration should have properly, through the appropriate processes, legalized the activity. But this is contrary to the abitrary, unilateral behavior of the bush administration. I am sorry to offend the red party hardliners, but I don't think you can refute that baby bush and his administration has on several occasions done what they damn well pleased. To heck with proper, established procedures, what they wanted was all that mattered.
