Bush Vetoes Bill Banning CIA Waterboarding
President Bush has vetoed a bill that would have barred the CIA from using harsh interrogation techniques such as waterboarding.
The veto, Bush’s ninth, reinforces his legacy of backing strong executive powers, the New York Times reports. The bill would have allowed the CIA to use only 19 less aggressive techniques, effectively banning methods that include waterboarding, extreme temperatures and forced standing for long periods, the Washington Post reports.
Bush announced his veto decision in his weekly radio address. “Because the danger remains, we need to ensure our intelligence officials have all the tools they need to stop the terrorists,” he said. “This is no time for Congress to abandon practices that have a proven track record of keeping America safe.”
