Republicans Stop Bill To Ban Waterboarding

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CBS/AP

Senate Republicans blocked a bill Friday that would restrict the interrogation methods the CIA can use against terrorism suspects.

The bill would require the CIA to adhere to the Army's field manual on interrogation, which bans waterboarding, mock executions and other harsh interrogation methods.

The interrogation procedure, which is recognized as a form of torture by making the subject think he's drowning, is banned by international law. It has been used by CIA interrogators on terrorism suspects, or by those to whom U.S. prisoners have been sent via rendition flights.


A Senate bill which would prohibit the CIA from using waterboarding as an interrogation method was blocked by Republicans, who believed that banning the torture method would "destroy" the government's ability to combat terrorism. (CBS)

It was recently learned that the CIA ordered the destruction of videotapes of interrogations in which detainees were reportedly subjected to waterboarding and other harsh measures.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/14/national/main3621016.shtml