Now here is some good news: the US Senate voted overwhelmingly for an amendment to a Pentagon spending bill that sets standards for the treatment of prisoners in U.S. military custody. The measure, sponsored by Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, will require American troops to follow interrogation standards set in the Army Field Manual and bar “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” of prisoners in U.S. custody. The amendment also standardizes how service members detain and interrogate terrorism suspects.
On Wednesday night, senators voted 90-9 to include the provision to the $440 billion Defense Department spending bill. Earlier, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush would likely veto the defense spending bill if McCain’s language were included, calling the amendment “unnecessary and duplicative.” The Senate action shows that members of the president’s own party are concerned about his wartime policies. Their worries reflect those of their skeptical constituents. Public opinion polls show declining American support for the war that has so far claimed the lives of more than 1,940 U.S. military members.
I guess it was one of those situations were Bush (or better said: his aides) figured out it was best to let this one go and just approve the whole bill.