Monday, September 11, 2006
Presidential RhetIaq: On Authorizing Torture
Who: President George W. Bush
Sources: The White House I, The White House II, and The Boston Globe
Quotes:
From transcript of September 6, 2006, speech by President Bush;
I want to be absolutely clear with our people, and the world: The United States does not torture. It's against our laws, and it's against our values. I have not authorized it -- and I will not authorize it. Last year, my administration worked with Senator John McCain, and I signed into law the Detainee Treatment Act, which established the legal standard for treatment of detainees wherever they are held. I support this act.
From December 2005 Presidential signing statement for the Detainee Treatment Act;
The executive branch shall construe Title X in Division A of the Act, relating to detainees, in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as Commander in Chief and consistent with the constitutional limitations on the judicial power, which will assist in achieving the shared objective of the Congress and the President, evidenced in Title X, of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks.
[Blogger's Note: The above statement is widely interpreted to this equivalent statement found in The Boston Globe; "The president, as commander in chief, can waive the torture ban if he decides that harsh interrogation techniques will assist in preventing terrorist attacks."]
Sources: The White House I, The White House II, and The Boston Globe
Quotes:
From transcript of September 6, 2006, speech by President Bush;
I want to be absolutely clear with our people, and the world: The United States does not torture. It's against our laws, and it's against our values. I have not authorized it -- and I will not authorize it. Last year, my administration worked with Senator John McCain, and I signed into law the Detainee Treatment Act, which established the legal standard for treatment of detainees wherever they are held. I support this act.
From December 2005 Presidential signing statement for the Detainee Treatment Act;
The executive branch shall construe Title X in Division A of the Act, relating to detainees, in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President to supervise the unitary executive branch and as Commander in Chief and consistent with the constitutional limitations on the judicial power, which will assist in achieving the shared objective of the Congress and the President, evidenced in Title X, of protecting the American people from further terrorist attacks.
[Blogger's Note: The above statement is widely interpreted to this equivalent statement found in The Boston Globe; "The president, as commander in chief, can waive the torture ban if he decides that harsh interrogation techniques will assist in preventing terrorist attacks."]
