ABA debating resolution urging new CIA terror interrogation policy News
ABA debating resolution urging new CIA terror interrogation policy

[JURIST] The American Bar Association (ABA) [profession website] is considering a resolution [draft text, DOC] urging President George W. Bush to reconsider his July 20 executive order [text] on interrogations, which two ABA committees say allows the Central Intelligence Agency [official website] to be exempted from Common Article 3 [text] of the Geneva Conventions. The proposed resolution also urges the US Congress to enact legislation to supersede the executive order, and ensure that all foreign persons under the custody of the United States are treated in a manner that conforms with Article 3 and US Army Field Manual on Intelligence Interrogation of September 2006 [FM2-22.3, PDF text]. The resolution is among many being considered [recommendations, DOC] by the ABA at its 2007 San Francisco Annual Meeting [profession website]. The ABA will vote on the resolution next week.

US Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell [official profile] defended the executive order and the administration's policy in July, insisting that the "United States does not engage in torture" [transcript, JURIST report]. The executive order bans cruel and inhuman treatment [JURIST report] of terror suspects, but does not specify what interrogation techniques are permissible. AP has more.