Measure banning private sector interrogators fails in Senate
Overriding Democrats' contention that private contractors should not be engaged in interrogating military detainees, the Senate voted 54-43 Wednesday against a bid by Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., to ban the use of non-military interrogators.
Dodd's amendment to the fiscal 2005 defense authorization bill sprang from reports that some contract interrogators had been involved in abuses of prisoners at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Under Dodd's proposal, civilian contractors would no longer be used as interrogators and civilian interrogators at the Guantanamo facility in Cuba would have to leave after a year.
"We should not have people doing this intelligence activity who are outsourced. There is no accountability, no chain of command, and they have virtual immunity to the provisions of the Uniform Code of Military Justice," Dodd said.
Armed Services Chairman John Warner, R-Va., said he sympathized with Dodd, but opposed the amendment.
"There is no way the military can hire and train in this short a period all the replacements the military would need," he said.
Three Democrats -- Sens. Zell Miller of Georgia, Bill Nelson of Florida and John (Jay) Rockefeller of West Virginia -- joined Republicans to table Dodd's proposal.
COMMENTS
- Well boys, sadly enough, you're both absolutely right. Senator Dodd, as you stated. there's no accountability, no chain of command, and immunity to the UCMJ. What more could a mercenary ask for? Like it or not, that's what we have here. And, it's exactly what this administration wants. Senator Warner, you're also correct. No way the military can gear up for this situation in such a short time. Unfortunately you've also exposed how little support the men and women in the last true world power military force has received from Washington in the last ten years or so. Bottomline here, our military personnel deserve far more support than what they've been given. It's time to cross party lines gentlemen. For the true, best interests, of the country. Art Doss Posted June 16, 2004 5:54 PM
