Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Sen. Kennedy's Anti-Torture Bill

The bill is S.1943 and the full text can be found here. Here is what it prohibits:
(b) Prohibited Actions- The treatment or techniques of interrogation prohibited under subsection (a) include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Forcing an individual to be naked, perform sexual acts, or pose in a sexual manner.

(2) Placing a hood or sack over the head of an individual, or using or placing duct tape over the eyes of an individual.

(3) Applying a beating, electric shock, burns, or other forms of physical pain to an individual.

(4) Subjecting an individual to the procedure known as `waterboarding'.

(5) Subjecting an individual to threats or attack from a military working dog.

(6) Inducing hypothermia or heat injury in an individual.

(7) Conducting a mock execution of an individual.

(8) Depriving an individual of necessary food, water, or medical care.

I'm sure Bush can find many other intensive techniques to use other than the ones listed above.

The bill was introduced on August 2nd by Sen. Kennedy (with no co-sponsors) and was referred to the Judiciary Committee. This could take awhile because the Senate Judiciary Committee has many, many bills to consider such as the Methamphetamine Kingpin Elimination Act, the High Tech Worker Relief Act, the Text a Tip Act, and the Design Piracy Protection Act to name just a few. Then the bill needs to be scheduled for debate, voted on in the Senate, voted on in the House, and signed by the President. That shouldn't take too long to happen, except maybe for the people that are currently being tortured.

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