House Passes Ban on CIA Waterboarding

Interrogations must meet Geneva standards under bill
By Caroline Zimmerman,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 13, 2007 3:20 PM CST
House Passes Ban on CIA Waterboarding
Volunteer torture victim Maboub Ebrahimzdeh is restrained as human rights activists demonstrate water boarding on him in front of the Justice Department, November 5, 2007 in Washington DC. Protestors are demonstrating against the confirmation of Attorney General Nominee Michael Mukasey, who refuses...   (Getty Images )

The House of Representatives today approved a bill that would forbid the CIA from using harsh interrogation methods, including waterboarding, Reuters reports. The measure follows revelations that the agency destroyed tapes showing al Qaeda suspects subjected to simulated drowning. But the bill still has to pass the Senate, and has already incurred the promise of a presidential veto.

The legislation directs US intelligence officials to abide by the Army Field Manual in interrogation procedures, a document in line with the Geneva Conventions on the fair treatment of prisoners of war. "This would mean no more torture," one Democrat told Bloomberg. But President Bush still claims the US does not torture, though he refuses to disclose what techniques are used. (More CIA videotapes stories.)

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