Bush always claimed that he will refuse any bills amendment (such as this one) which would limit the treatment of detainees in his "war on terror" because he says they are "not needed" and because they don't torture anyone, right?
Then why are Bush and Cheney asking for an exemption for the CIA on the amendment, and for exemptions for non-Americans not held on American soil?
NYTimes: White House Is Seeking Exception in Detainee Abuse Ban. Stepping up a confrontation with the Senate over the handling of detainees, the White House is insisting that the Central Intelligence Agency be exempted from a proposed ban on abusive treatment of suspected Qaeda militants and other terrorists.
The purpose of the amendment is not to give the Bush "maximum flexibility" for the future, but rather to exempt the CIA so that it can continue to do what it has been doing for some time.
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If the CIA exemption goes through, will it still be possible for the American people to avoid culpability by claiming that they were ignorant?