Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Torture as US election issue?

From Homeland Security NewsWire:

Future of interrogation methods of terrorists may depend on election

2 October 2012

On the campaign trail, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have not said much about their approach to interrogating terrorists; but as the manner in which U.S. government agencies approach such interrogations, and the practices agents employ, may well depend on the outcome of next month’s election



The New York Times reports that in one of this first acts in office, President Obama issued an executive order which limited the list of approved interrogation tactics listed in the Army Field Manual. Obama was more aggressive in pursuing some counterterrorism tactics, such as the use of drones and Special Forces, but has maintained his no-torture policy throughout his first term.


The Times reports that Romney’s advisers are pushing him to announce that he would rescind and replace Obama’s executive order and permit “enhanced interrogation techniques against high-value detainees that are safe, legal and effective in generating intelligence to save American lives.”


“We’ll use enhanced interrogation techniques which go beyond those that are in the military handbook right now.” Romney said in a press conference in Charleston, South Carolina, in December 2011...


There is much more here.

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