Liberated Text -> Congressional Record -> Nine Senators of Shame
Mr. Stevens: Mr. President, this Senator doesn't agree with anything that has been said about the applicability of this provision to anyone in the military uniform. Most of the speakers have talked about men and women in the armed services. The amendment goes much further than that.
But first, the problem is it requires the field manual to list every type and means of interrogation. Thousands of pages will be required. People will be prosecuted in military courts if they don't know every single one of them, if they even cross the line by accident. This idea of listing all of the possible ways to interrogate a person is impossible. I say that should be changed. Maybe they should issue from time to time additional items to go in the field manual. But to require that no one can use a means of interrogation not listed in advance when we are involved in a war on terror and we are dealing with terrorists is wrong.
Beyond that, this deals with any person--not any military person. The Geneva Conventions were originally intended to deal with military prisoners. This is dealing with anyone who is intercepted now anywhere in the world who, regardless of nationality or physical location, is in custody or physical control of the United States because a person who is American happens to be there.
Again, I mention these teams I have met with, and I respect multinational teams. This, in effect, says that an American is responsible for anything done by any member of that team. That, to me, is wrong.
What is more, I think it is wrong to presume there is no place in this country or in the operation of this country where we should not have the ability to deal with terrorists on their own ground.
These are vicious people, suicidal people. I do not think they should be accorded the rank and treatment of men and women in uniform from other nations. That is what this amendment does. I shall oppose it. I may be all alone, but I shall oppose it because I think there is a place in our operations against individuals involved in the war on terrorism where we deal with them as they deal with us.
These are not military people. They may not even be American nationals who are working for us in an undercover way, but this says we are responsible for treating all these people according to the Geneva Conventions and according to processes listed in the U.S. Army Field Manual. That is wrong. That is all simply wrong, and I shall oppose the amendment.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The Presiding Officer (Ms. Murkowski): The clerk will call the roll.
The Journal clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. Graham: Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be dispensed with.
The Presiding Officer: Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. Graham: Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment.
The Presiding Officer: Without objection, it is so ordered.