House bans torture

The House of Representatives approved an intelligence bill today that prohibits the use of physical and psychological torture techniques such as waterboarding and mock executions.

The 222-199 vote sent the measure to the Senate, which still must act before it can go to President Bush. The White House has threatened a veto.

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One provision requires reporting to the committees on whether intelligence agency employees are complying with protections for detainees from cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment. Another requires a report on the use of private contractors in intelligence work.

It is the first intelligence authorization conference bill Congress has produced in three years.

The White House threatened to veto the measure this week in a lengthy statement, highlighting more than 11 areas of disagreement with the bill.

The administration particularly opposes restricting the CIA to interrogation methods approved by the military in 2006. That document prohibits forcing detainees to be naked, perform sexual acts, or pose in a sexual manner; placing hoods or sacks over detainees' heads or duct tape over their eyes; beating, shocking, or burning detainees; threatening them with military dogs; exposing them to extreme heat or cold; conducting mock executions; depriving them of food, water, or medical care; and waterboarding.

Waterboarding is a particularly harsh form of interrogation that involves strapping down a prisoner, covering his mouth with plastic or cloth and pouring water over his face. The prisoner quickly begins to inhale water, causing the sensation of drowning.

I am equally distressed by two facts:

1. That the AP is so eager to employ Bush's framing of the torture issue that the word "torture" appears nowhere in this story; and

2. That 199 members of congress believe American intelligence agencies should be allowed to treat human beings in the following manner - ... forcing detainees to be naked, perform sexual acts, or pose in a sexual manner; placing hoods or sacks over detainees' heads or duct tape over their eyes; beating, shocking, or burning detainees; threatening them with military dogs; exposing them to extreme heat or cold; conducting mock executions; depriving them of food, water, or medical care; and waterboarding.

For God's sake, President Bush and the Republicans don't even want to declare that beating, shocking, and burning people is out of bounds? And the AP isn't even willing to call that "torture?"

We have a narrow window during which this country can reclaim its soul. I pray that we do not let this opportunity slip away.