Congress Handcuffs the CIA

Congressman McDermott has included a provision into the intelligence appropriation bill which would criminalize many interrogation practices.

FrumForum was informed that late last night Congressman McDermott included a provision into the intelligence appropriation bill which targets CIA officers.  There was no discussion, no debate, and no conversation.  This provision ambiguously defines the criminal acts as anything that involves "cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment." These treatments include depriving a captured terrorist of food, water, sleep, medical care, and does not allow for the threat of force.  Theoretically, if a person is deprived of food that they say THEY NEED a criminal act has been committed.  In addition, it does not define what is considered sleep deprivation.

This was "a midnight implementation" and is in the underlying bill.  What this means if that any Congressperson is against this provision they must vote against the whole bill. A Congressional official stated to FrumForum that "it is a double standard since Congress does not have to take responsibility for its role and assent in national security policy, but the intelligence community are being held to subjective standards.  This administration prioritizes criminal prosecution over intelligence collection."