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Straight-Talk Express

Here’s what Senator McCain had to say about waterboarding and harsh interrogation techniques during a CNN debate back in November:

“I’m astonished you would think such a torture would be inflicted on anyone we have held captive and how anyone could believe that’s not torture. It’s in violation of the Geneva Conventions. It’s in violation of existing law. And Governor let me tell you, if we’re going to get the high ground in this world and we’re going to be the America that we’ve cherished and loved for more than 200 years, we’re not going to torture people. We’re not going to do what Pol Pot did. We’re not going to do what’s being done to Burmese monks as we speak.

I just came back from visiting prison in Iraq, and the Army General there said the techniques under the Army Field Manual are working and working effectively, and he didn’t think they need to do anything else. My friends, this is what America is all about. This is a defining issue. And clearly, we should be able, if we want to be Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces, to take a definite and positive position on it. And that is that we will never allow torture to take place in the United States of America.”

That’s certainly a moving and definitive statement of Senator McCain’s unwavering opposition to allowing the torture harsh interrogation techniques favored by his opponents. I have no doubt he would hold absolutely true to his convictions no matter how much the so-called “conservative” base of the Republican Party hammers him for it. Right?

Apparently not:

“Today, the Senate brought the Intelligence Authorization Bill to the floor, which contained a provision from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) establishing one interrogation standard across the government. The bill requires the intelligence community to abide by the same standards as articulated in the Army Field Manual and bans waterboarding.

…Mr. McCain voted “no” on Wednesday afternoon.”

Truly, bitterly dissapointing.

~ Matt