Keeping Authorized Torture Techniques Off the Internet, Bush Vetoes H.R. 2082

In his radio address to the nation today, President Bush said he vetoed the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2008 (H.R. 2082) because it was wrong to ban practices that have a proven record of keeping America safe. Those practices include harsh interrogation methods that are not authorized in the Army Field Manual, such as waterboarding to break suspected terrorists. The President explained:

"Limiting the CIA's interrogation methods to those in the Army Field Manual would be dangerous because the manual is publicly available and easily accessible on the Internet."

Grasping for a rationalization...aren't these techniques common knowledge.

Footnote: H.R. 2082 [Thomas Resources] pass the House 222 - 199; and the Senate 51 - 45 (Clinton & Obama did not vote; McCain voted nay) so a veto override appears unlikely. [JH]