December 2005 Archives

The Get-Out-of-Torture-Free Card - Why is Congress banning torture but allowing the use of torture testimony? By Emily Bazelon

Congress deserves a pat on the back today for facing down the Bush administration and passing John McCain's unconditional ban on torture, right? Not exactly. Alongside McCain's legislation sits another amendment that undercuts the ban by allowing for the legal use of testimony obtained by torture. If enacted, that provision will move the United States away from standing behind a clear legal and moral principle and into the murk of hedges and exception-making—achieving exactly what McCain's bill is supposed to avoid.

Why is Carl Levin supporting this atrocious amendment?

House Endorses Senate-Passed Ban on Mistreating Terror Suspects

In a symbolic move, the House endorsed a Senate-passed ban on cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment of foreign terrorism suspects Wednesday as negotiations between the White House and Sen. John McCain over the provision appeared at an impasse.

To Halt Abuses, U.S. Will Inspect Jails Run by Iraq - New York Times

American military officers will inspect hundreds of detention centers and embed with Iraqi police commando units and other Interior Ministry forces to try to halt widespread abuses uncovered by raids on two Iraqi-run detention centers in Baghdad in the last month, the American ambassador pledged Tuesday.

A Scotsman Wields a Not-So-Invisible Hand in Africa - New York Times

"We don't want to create a dependency culture in Africa," he said. "We make an investment. We want a return. We wouldn't just give the money and hope for the best. I am a Scotsman after all."

Scottish billionaire Sir Tom Hunter promises a novel approach to aid to Africa in conjunction with former U.S. President Bill Clinton.

Plan: We Win - New York Times

The New York Times on President Bush's plan for victory in Iraq: "A president who seems less in touch with reality than Richard Nixon needs to get out more."