Page 2 - ARUBA TODAY

A2 UP FRONT
Friday 11 May 2018

Even from afar, McCain raises

his voice against torture

By LISA MASCARO and DEB was watching from home istration to stop enhanced
RIECHMANN in Arizona where he is interrogation techniques.
Associated Press battling brain cancer. He But they parted ways a
WASHINGTON (AP) — As urged the Senate to reject decade later when Mc-
Senate consideration of the nominee. Cain teamed up with Sen.
Gina Haspel to head the McCain is not expected Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.,
CIA quickly turned into a to return to Washington for to pass a law to ensure
debate over torture, one the vote, and he may not no future president could
voice weighed in from be able to sway his col- tear up President Barack
afar. Republican Sen. John leagues to stop her confir- Obama’s executive action
In this Oct. 16, 2017, file photo Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., McCain, a Navy pilot who mation. banning torture.
receives the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Center was beaten in captivity Still, the senator who has Two days after taking office
in Philadelphia.
Associated Press during the Vietnam War, defined his political career in 2009, Obama issued an
by going against the grain executive order prohibiting
of party norms is doing it all government employees
again in what may be his from using any interroga-
last battle in a decades- tion method that wasn’t
long fight against torture. spelled out in the Army
“I believe Gina Haspel is a Field Manual, a military
patriot who loves our coun- guide that banned brutal
try and has devoted her interrogation techniques,
professional life to its service such as waterboarding,
and defense,” he said in a which simulates drowning.
statement late Wednesday For McCain, getting the
night. “However, Ms. Has- anti-torture amendment
pel’s role in overseeing the passed in 2015 was per-
use of torture by Americans sonal. He was beaten and
is disturbing. Her refusal to kept in solitary confinement
acknowledge torture’s im- as a prisoner of war in Viet-
morality is disqualifying.” nam in the 1960s.
He concluded, “The Sen- Graham, who missed much
ate should exercise its duty of the Senate action this
of advice and consent and week to spend time with his
reject this nomination.” friend at the McCain family
McCain’s statement sent home, said in an interview
a warning to President that it’s thanks to the Arizo-
Donald Trump, who has na senator’s work that Has-
suggested reviving torture pel will be required to fol-
techniques. But it has had low the law, as she said she
limited impact in the Sen- would do. “Sen. McCain’s
ate, where Haspel was view of what the country’s
gaining support. doing won the day,” Gra-
Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., ham told AP.
who has said he expects “The reason we are where
Haspel will be confirmed. we are is from Sen. Mc-
“Obviously, everyone Cain’s voice.”
has tremendous respect Haspel, the CIA’s acting
for John,” said Sen. John director and a career in-
Thune, R-S.D. “But I think telligence officer, faced
most of our members are grilling at the Senate Intel-
just kind of in a different ligence Committee about
place than he is, and Lind- her role overseeing some
sey probably is most repre- CIA operations in the af-
sentative of that.” termath of the Sept. 11,
It’s not the first time Gra- 2001, attacks. Some sena-
ham and McCain have tors asked about her mor-
split on the torture issue. In als. Haspel told them she
2005, they led efforts during doesn’t believe torture
the George W. Bush admin- works.q