A matter of conscience

marylou,ny.ny — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 20:50:13 GMT

I think the President's stand on the interrogation issue makes compromise seem unlikely. The Supreme Court has decided against our breaking the rules of the Geneva convention to preserve the safety of our own military. hopfullily the president will reconsider. McCain and others are absolutely correct in their thinking.

A matter of conscience

Randy Lynn, Tualatin OR — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:46:26 GMT

Thank God some of our elected representatives understand that the changes President Bush is asking for will destroy our moral standing in the world and fundamentally change the soul of our country. Whatever laws we enact about detainees or terrorism must not be hostage to politics or hurried to make it easier for one party or the other to "win". Sen. McCain (along with Sen.'s Warner, Graham and Collins) need to be commended and supported rather than vilified by their own constitutents.

A matter of conscience

James Frego Capt. US Army (ret.) Grants Pass, OR — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 23:23:09 GMT

What proof does President Bush have that the "Information Obtained by Torture" regarding the "WAR" on terror could not have been obtained legally by following the Geneva Conventions?

A matter of conscience

Roger Holland, North Bend, WA — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 23:30:46 GMT

One of my life-lessons has been that if you cannot explain an issue to someone in a way that convinces them that you are right, you probably are wrong and should re-think your idea.

Our esteemed president seems to be unable to explain his issues in such a way that most Americans, including some Republicans, are willing to believe him. Re-thinking is in order for Mr. Bush.

A matter of conscience

Elli Silver — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 23:30:53 GMT

Don't think for a minute that if we change the rules of the Geneva Convention that other countries will abide by those very rules that we want changed just for the U.S. We should do everything in our power to find these terrorists and stop them, but we also need to remember that we are a civilized country. It will be 1000x worse for our guys if they get captured and then Mr. Bush will be screaming about the rules of the Geneva Convention. I don't think we should let these guys get off light, but there are other ways we can interrogate them. Round up their families for one, threaten them. Since Mr. Bush has no problem with torture, I'd say let the Air Force test their non-lethal weapons on him and his family first. (I know entirely different subject, but still...)

A matter of conscience

Allen Hase, Portland, Oregon — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 23:39:18 GMT

This isn't so much the high moral ground as it is the high human ground. The good guys have always been identified with fighting the noble cause, with laws that guaranteed the rights of all, with civilized and fair treatment. If this distinction is blurred, we'll still be able to identify the bad guys, but we'll become more and more just a bigger, stronger bully and guarantee an unending military-political cycle, just like the middle east has been for 14 centuries.

A matter of conscience

Matt Scellato, Oakland CA — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 23:43:02 GMT

Would it not make more sense to ask the ICRC for clarification of the parts of the Geneva Convention that the President feels are ambiguous. While the Geneva Conventions were approved by our Congress, we were not the ones to design or write them. The only body that should be amending the Geneva Conventions is the body that created them. If they decide to change the standards, they will still be standards that everyone must follow. If we amend the Geneva Conventions as we see fit, we completely invalidate them by giving every other nation of the world the right to do the same.

A matter of conscience

diane offineer — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 23:45:19 GMT

why is the President fighting so hard, in spite of the Supreme Courts ruling, for changing the Geneva convention? What IS the CIA doing that needs to be outside the rules, so the rules must change to allow it. It must be horrendous to think of. This President has reniged on every decent treaty that has been made in 10 or maybe more years. Why not treaties with Germany, Native America, Japan, France etc.?
Why stop at Kyoto?

A matter of conscience

Mc, Rocky Point, NY — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:06:31 GMT

Torture gets people to talk, but they say whatever they think you want to hear, it does not get good information. John McCain understands this and he also understands that if we lower the standards it will give our enemies justification to lower the standards when it comes to treating our people.

A matter of conscience

Chris W, Providence, RI — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:09:42 GMT

It speaks volumes that the individuals who have actually served their country in uniform, are behind McCain. Those who have not, are the very individuals supporting the President.

A matter of conscience

Barbara, Tullahoma, TN — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:11:12 GMT

If Bush believes the Supreme Court is wrong in their decision supporting the Geneva convention; can we all agree that the Supreme Court was wrong in "appointing" him President in 2000?

A matter of conscience

Lisa Arce, Deer Park, NY — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:13:15 GMT

What will the president do next? This last attempt to rewrite law to suit his own chicken hawk extemist hypocritical views only makes me think that HE'S THE FASCIST!!!!!!!!!!!!

A matter of conscience

Scott Baker, Chagrin Falls, Ohio — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:15:07 GMT

We are supposed to be the good guys. We should be the moral as well as the military leaders. If we are not better than the other guys, why do we deserve to win? Is it our ambition to be as evil as tyrants?

A matter of conscience

Maryl Paquet — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:17:02 GMT

I cannot believe that a "born again Christian", could even suggest that torture is even a consideration for treating another human being. The end has never justified the means,and lose the moral
ethics of this country.

A matter of conscience

Gary Johnson, Seattle, WA — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:27:04 GMT

Can we make the world any worse place for Americans than it already is? Thats what we would be doing if Congress went along with the President. Finally enough Senators have a backbone to standup and be counted for what is right and block the President.

A matter of conscience

Stu, Saginaw, MI — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:36:15 GMT

It seems that in all of the rhetoric over this issue something is tremendously conspicuous by its absence: The U.S. (read: CIA) has already committed tortures and other violations of the Geneva Accords and Bush's overly aggressive push to redefine the Accords is a blatant attempt to absolve those acts retroactively. That's why Bush is saying the trials can't go forward unless we first get his interpretations passed into law.

How about if NBC, MSNBC, and First Read look into that angle?

A matter of conscience

Vinny Goombotz — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:40:02 GMT

There he goes again with his so called Christian values. He is a typical CEO president he will do to America what Ken Lay did for Enron.

I love my country, but I'm ashamed of my President.

A matter of conscience

Edwin Chamberlain — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:42:38 GMT

I don't see how the Geneva Accords can apply when the other side in the fight, hasn't signed them or has signed them but doesn't abide by them. I also don't see you you can keep control of or get information from a population of prisoners who are more afraid of their former colleagues than they are of their guards and interrigators.

A matter of conscience

Leonid — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:44:35 GMT

In few years Senate will apply much more harsh rules than Bush asks now, after several thousand of Americans will be killed here because of their stupidity. Vote for Democrats and wait what will happen.

A matter of conscience

Michael Talbot, Newburg, NY — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:50:27 GMT

I question McCain's motives in this stand against Bush's tactics. I'd rather think the moral tone from the Republicans is better defined by Lindsey Graham and Susan Collins. I detect greater humanity in them. In his own way, I think McCain actually agrees with Bush on the use of torture -- If this is the spearheading of a mission to redeem our moral compass, I do not trust it in McCain's hands alone. Americans of solid moral fiber should beware of the senator from Arizona.

A matter of conscience

Ben, Decatur, AL — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:50:31 GMT

I "rough" interrogation is accepted for non citizens, it is just a short step to acceptance for our citizens.

A matter of conscience

Luke Hitsman, Midland, MI — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 00:57:29 GMT

What people dont realize is that the changes that Bush is trying to make have more to do with the fact that the adminstration has already violated the Geneva convention and these changes will retroactivly abslove them from wrong doing. The administration realizes that there are a lot of scholars and other countries that are beginning to see that Bush has committed war crimes and he may face prosecution. Most the of specific changes will make the laws they have already broken null and void. This has more to do with Bush trying to protect himself than fight terrorism.

A matter of conscience

Barry Friedman, Tulsa, Oklahoma — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 01:09:40 GMT

I want to make sure I have this right:
Members of this administration--none of whom
who actually found the time to serve in the
military, and after doing such a bang-up job of winning the peace in Iraq--believe they have
more credibility on this issue than
McCain and Powell, guys who actually know how
to put on a uniform?

A matter of conscience

Ann Marie, Utica, NY — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 01:42:50 GMT

This article reinforces the Republican idea "I don't like the rules, so I am going to change them." Maybe more people in this country should pay attention to the number of protections they have lst or are losing because of the beliefs of this particular administration, and its cronies.

A matter of conscience

LOU MARSTEN — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 04:05:06 GMT

JOHN MCCAIN REMINDS ME OF A SHORT POEM I LEARNED ABOUT DRIVING DEFENSIVELY.I AM WRITING THIS WITH REGARD TO WHETHER WE SHOULD GET THE CONGRESS TO HELP THIS PRESIDENT PROTECT US FROM POSSIBLE WMD ATTACKS. " HERE LIES THE BODY OF JONATHAN GREY, WHO DIED DEFENDING THE RIGHT OF WAY.HE FELT HE WAS RIGHT AS HE DROVE ALONG, BUT HE'S JUST AS DEAD AS IF HE'D BEEN DEAD WRONG.WE ARE NOT IN SOME GAME HERE DEALING WITH ENEMIES WHO PLAY BY THE RULES, OR ARE NATION STATES.I BELIEVE THAT THIS PRESIDENT IS ABSOLUTELY ON POINT! WE ARE IN A STRUGGLE FOR THE SURVIVAL OF CIVILIZATION, AND WE ABSOLUTELY MUST USE EVERY LEGAL (BASED ON OUR CONSTITUTION ) MEANS TO "WIN" THIS TERRIBLE CONFLICT.

A matter of conscience

CM Oklahoma — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 04:20:18 GMT

I am appalled that someone that has never been to war himself, has never been tortured, or held prisoner, has the audacity to think he has the right to change anything concerning the rules of engagment of war, little lone the Geneva Convention of Nations.

A matter of conscience

Jim Frego Capt. US Amry (ret) Grants Pass, OR — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 07:37:22 GMT

President Bush recently announced on WORLD WIDE TELEVISION that we have been holding
detainees from the Afghan and Iraq "WARS" in secret prisons around the world. He also stated that
tough interrogation procedures were being used. He would not detail the procedures other than state
they were beyond the Geneva Conventions agreements and they were justified.
Our GI's are now at SERIOUS RISK of INHUMANE TORTURE if captured in Afghanistan, Iraq or any future WAR anywhere in the world.
President Bush has THROWN THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS OUT THE WINDOW!
Our GI's will suffer horribly as a result since no other nation will now feel obligated.
Our GI's will have the fingernails and toenails ripped out. Their GENITALS will be connected to electrodes
and high voltage applied. Their eyes will be slowly pierced with sharp objects. If you can think of a
torture that might make someone talk our enemies will now consider it fair game. Bush's zeal to do
everything possible to fight the war on terror is going to come back to America and haunt us for generations. Now he wants Congress to POST DATE a law
allowing the torture to continue.What proof does President Bush have that the "Information Obtained by Torture" regarding the "WAR"
on terror could not have been obtained legally by following the Geneva Conventions?
I seems to me Bush is after CYA Post Dated legislation to help prevent him and the CIA TORTURERS
from being tried as WAR CRIMIALS, Convicted and sent to one of the "SECRET PRISONS".

A matter of conscience

annie — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 12:50:32 GMT

some of u people make me sick and havent even read the geneva i bet not of u have kids in iraq let me tell u about mccain the pompous one he goes to iraq for five minutes he walks right by the average soldier like they are nothing when rummy or bush goes they make sure they talk to the privates the enlisted ones mccain is not doing this for the soldiers a slap is not torture a dog in the face is not torture if that then i guess we should arrest our cops who uses dog in that way all the time if u are not in uniform u are not protected by the geneva if u are a terrorists not fighting fora terrorists attack u are not covered by the geneva in fact u can legally be shot by not being in uniform why dont u people talk to americans soldiers who are in iraq and ask them what torture is my son carry one extra bullet he aint letting them get him at all he will kill himself first some of u people should see what they do to our americans soldiers contractors then compare a slap to a beheading better yet watch nick berg video that is torture we will never beat these guys if u dont give our guys the right to fight the right to interrograte my son is right over there fighting for your right to bash the military when in reality none of care because u were not directly effectd by 911 it didnt happen to me so iw ill defend terrrorists rights and hand tie our military

A matter of conscience

Bryan Harmon — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 13:40:04 GMT

First of all, the fact that these "high value" individuals were held in secret prisons outside the US and were, in the President's words, subjected to alternative forms of interrogation suggests that they were tortured. The president's proposal to allow hearsay evidence and evidence obtained through coercion also points to the same thing, as does his request to have the interrogators made immune from prosecution. Obviously, the government couldn't bring in men who had provided evidence against the accused under duress and expect them to give the same testimony on the witness stand. Since they can't very well torture them in the courtroom, prosecutors would be unlikely to get the same story at the trial. Therefore the President wants this evidence to be presented in the form of hearsay.

A matter of conscience

Jane, Southern Mississippi — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 04:15:56 GMT

I'm glad McCain is his own person again. I can respect that.