As a former military interrogator, you bring different memories and perspectives to the table than Sen. McCain. He was held hostage for 5 years and savagely abused, to the point that he still cannot raise his arms above his shoulders. This was a guy fit enough to be a fighter pilot, remember. They broke his arms and then hung him from a pipe and pounded them some more. I respectfully submit that his opinons on this topic are more valid than yours or mine. When he says we shouldn't brutalize prisoners, he knows whereof he speaks.

I respect your opinion but I do not agree with you here.


>I applaud his ideals, however, as a former military interrogator, I cannot see how it will be effective. In essence it will tie everyone's hands so that any questioning will be inneffective. It will also change the interrogation techniques of the police across the nation because what can be determined to be 'degrading treatment' is purely subjective. Also, military field manuals can be changed on an annual basis. A recent study concluded there were abuses when the detainees claimed that they were held for 4 hours in a room without windows. I'm sorry, but that to me is completely acceptable and does not constitute abuse. In time of war when there is the possibility of presenting a target to the enemy you have to protect your captives and they may need to be held in a close, confined space for much longer than that. Even in the SERE course you are held in isolated, close, confined spaces for much longer.
>Just wanted to add that it should be surpufluous because current regulations stipulate the treatment of PWs are to be guided by the principles set forth in the Code of Conduct, the Geneva Convention of 1949, Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, and the Hague Convention No. IV of 1907. (AR 350–216). The problem still is with the classification of detainees. I personally feel they should be classified POWs and afforded the treatment as such.
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>>>>On September 22, 2003, an agent of Iran's Intelligence Ministry was charged with the murder of Canadian photojournalist Zahra Kazemi. Commenting on the arrest, a spokesman from the prosecutor's office said "The crime is attributed to one of the [Intelligence Ministry] interrogators," and added that no government body was involved.
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>>>>She was tortured and killed, and it was entirely the fault of some interrogator? Certainly not Iranian policy. I suppose you buy this? I have a feeling you don't.
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>>>>Why is it the buck always stops at the top everywhere else, but always at the bottom in the U.S.?
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>>>Comparing us to the Iranians is hardly fair, don't you think?
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>>It isn't as unfair as it ought to be. The disclosures that continue to come out about Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, etc. have placed us uncomfortably close to the practices of Iran and other so-called rogue nations. I agree completely with Sen. McCain, who said (quoted in Newsweek), "This isn't about who they are. This is about who we are. These are the values that distinguish us from our enemies." McCain attached an amendment to the new defense appropriations bill setting clear limits on how prisoners of war are to be treated. The amendment was passed 90-9 by the Senate.