Tensions rise as McCain challenges CIA chief
Tensions rise as McCain challenges CIA chief
By Demetri Sevastopulo and Holly Yeager in Washington
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2006
Published: September 15 2006 03:00 | Last updated: September 15 2006 03:00
Tensions between influential Senate Republicans and the White House over interrogation and detention policies escalated to the point yesterday where Senator John McCain accused Michael Hayden, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, of trying to protect his own reputation instead of America.
The Arizona senator was referring to efforts by Mr Hayden on Capitol Hill to persuade lawmakers to back a White House proposal that would, critics say, allow the CIA to use harsh interrogation techniques on prisoners in secret prisons.
The Supreme Court ruled last month that the military commissions created to try prisoners at Guantánamo Bay violated US law and the Geneva conventions. In response, the White House drafted legislation to establish new commissions, but the proposal has run into opposition from human rights groups and a handful of key Republican senators who are concerned about the impact it would have on US soldiers.
In the wake of the court ruling, the administration decided that there could be legal problems with techniques used at secret prisons that were, and may again, be used to house high-level al-Qaeda suspects.
Mr McCain and several other key Republicans on the Senate armed services committee have raised objections to some of the rules the administration wants to incorporate into the military trials. But in recent days the debate has shifted to their concerns that the White House wants to redefine US obligations under the Geneva conventions.
The senators, who include John Warner, the respected chairman of the committee, and Lindsey Graham, a former military lawyer, are concerned that the White House proposal would result in other countries reinterpreting their Geneva obligations in ways that could endanger US troops. Mr McCain said if the White House gets its way, "other nations . . . will have their interpretation of common article 3 and I believe then people would be turned over to the secret police".
President George W. Bush made a rare visit to Capitol Hill yesterday to meet House lawmakers in an attempt to boost morale ahead of critical November congressional elections. He also aimed to shore up support for the military commissions proposal, and for separate legislation that would expand the ability of the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans with suspected terrorist links.
The White House argued that the legislation sponsored by Senators Warner, McCain and Graham - which was approved by the committee with the support of Republican Susan Collins and all the Democrats - would force the administration to shut down its secret prisons. But Mr McCain dismissed that argument.
"We are not saying the CIA cannot carry out a programme," Mr McCain said. "We are saying it cannot amend the Geneva conventions." While the House armed services committee, with strong Democrat support, approved legislation this week that closely resembles the administration's proposal, Mr McCain has received support from a slew of retired generals. In a letter signed by retired Gen Joseph Hoar, the former head of US Central Command, more than 20 other retired generals urged Mr McCain to stand his ground.
"Now that the Supreme Court has made clear that treatment of al-Qaeda prisoners is governed by Geneva convention standards, the administration is seeking to redefine common article 3, so as to downgrade those standards. We urge you to reject this effort."
In the run-up to the November elections, Republicans have been trying to portray Democrats as weak on national security. But the rift between Mr McCain and the White House has allowed them to remain on the sidelines.
Voters have traditionally favoured Republicans over Democrats when it comes to dealing with national security issues, but that advantage has been eroding. A poll released yesterday by the Pew Research Center found that the public favours Republicans on just one of 17 issues tested: terrorism.
By Demetri Sevastopulo and Holly Yeager in Washington
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2006
Published: September 15 2006 03:00 | Last updated: September 15 2006 03:00
Tensions between influential Senate Republicans and the White House over interrogation and detention policies escalated to the point yesterday where Senator John McCain accused Michael Hayden, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, of trying to protect his own reputation instead of America.
The Arizona senator was referring to efforts by Mr Hayden on Capitol Hill to persuade lawmakers to back a White House proposal that would, critics say, allow the CIA to use harsh interrogation techniques on prisoners in secret prisons.
The Supreme Court ruled last month that the military commissions created to try prisoners at Guantánamo Bay violated US law and the Geneva conventions. In response, the White House drafted legislation to establish new commissions, but the proposal has run into opposition from human rights groups and a handful of key Republican senators who are concerned about the impact it would have on US soldiers.
In the wake of the court ruling, the administration decided that there could be legal problems with techniques used at secret prisons that were, and may again, be used to house high-level al-Qaeda suspects.
Mr McCain and several other key Republicans on the Senate armed services committee have raised objections to some of the rules the administration wants to incorporate into the military trials. But in recent days the debate has shifted to their concerns that the White House wants to redefine US obligations under the Geneva conventions.
The senators, who include John Warner, the respected chairman of the committee, and Lindsey Graham, a former military lawyer, are concerned that the White House proposal would result in other countries reinterpreting their Geneva obligations in ways that could endanger US troops. Mr McCain said if the White House gets its way, "other nations . . . will have their interpretation of common article 3 and I believe then people would be turned over to the secret police".
President George W. Bush made a rare visit to Capitol Hill yesterday to meet House lawmakers in an attempt to boost morale ahead of critical November congressional elections. He also aimed to shore up support for the military commissions proposal, and for separate legislation that would expand the ability of the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on Americans with suspected terrorist links.
The White House argued that the legislation sponsored by Senators Warner, McCain and Graham - which was approved by the committee with the support of Republican Susan Collins and all the Democrats - would force the administration to shut down its secret prisons. But Mr McCain dismissed that argument.
"We are not saying the CIA cannot carry out a programme," Mr McCain said. "We are saying it cannot amend the Geneva conventions." While the House armed services committee, with strong Democrat support, approved legislation this week that closely resembles the administration's proposal, Mr McCain has received support from a slew of retired generals. In a letter signed by retired Gen Joseph Hoar, the former head of US Central Command, more than 20 other retired generals urged Mr McCain to stand his ground.
"Now that the Supreme Court has made clear that treatment of al-Qaeda prisoners is governed by Geneva convention standards, the administration is seeking to redefine common article 3, so as to downgrade those standards. We urge you to reject this effort."
In the run-up to the November elections, Republicans have been trying to portray Democrats as weak on national security. But the rift between Mr McCain and the White House has allowed them to remain on the sidelines.
Voters have traditionally favoured Republicans over Democrats when it comes to dealing with national security issues, but that advantage has been eroding. A poll released yesterday by the Pew Research Center found that the public favours Republicans on just one of 17 issues tested: terrorism.
posted by Carlos T Mock @ 10:50 AM
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