Good news, insofar as Bush/Cheney can be trusted to follow through on their word. But it's hard to give Bush, Cheney, or any of the Repugs the benefit of the doubt when they have demonstrated how little credibility that they have. Will this torture agreement hold water? Will it have loopholes that you can drive a Mack truck through? My guess is that despite McCain's attempts, Bush & Cheney will find massive loopholes, and this agreement will only have a limited, mostly symbolic effect. I hope I'm wrong. What do you think?
http://truthout.org/
Bush and McCain Reach Deal on Treatment of Torture Suspects
By Brian Knowlton
The International Herald Tribune
Thursday 15 December 2005
Washington - The White House, after weeks of resistance, agreed today to Senator John McCain's call for a law specifically banning cruel or inhuman treatment of terror suspects anywhere in the world.
Mr. McCain met with President Bush at the White House this afternoon, and an announcement of a deal followed.
The president said that the agreement would "make it clear to the world that this government does not torture and that we adhere to the international convention of torture, whether it be here at home or abroad."
Mr. McCain said that "we've sent a message to the world that the United States is not like the terrorists."
He continued, "This will help us enormously in winning the war for the hearts and minds of people throughout the world in the war on terror."
