There Can Be No Exceptions to the Prohibition on Torture

REP. MARKEY: ‘THERE CAN BE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THE PROHIBITION ON TORTURE'
Vice President Cheney is Running Unopposed To Become Chair of the Torture Caucus

WASHINGTON, DC - Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA) made the following statement in response to the news that Vice President Cheney was lobbying Congress for restrictions on the McCain torture amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill which passed the Senate 90-9.

"This White House has launched a campaign to maintain loopholes that would permit U.S. officials to conduct torture. It appears that Vice President Cheney is running unopposed to become chair of the Torture Caucus, an institution intent on preserving this discretion to engage in cruel and unusual punishment.

"The campaign to preserve torture began with the White House efforts to ‘redefine' torture by narrowing its legal definition. After threatening to veto a bill authored by former U.S. Navy pilot and former POW Senator John McCain, which would prohibit cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of persons in custody of the United States Government, this Administration has sent
Vice President Cheney to lobby Congress to create exemptions for the CIA to the prohibition on torture. There can be no exceptions to the U.S. policy that prohibits torture. This campaign to preserve torture as a U.S. practice is unacceptable. It is even more unbelievable that this campaign is being led from the White House."

http://www.house.gov/markey/Issues/iss_human_rights_pr051025.pdf