In February, the House and Senate sent to Bush a bill to continue programs at the CIA and other intelligence agencies but that would also extend the Army Field Manual’s prohibition on torture to members of the Intelligence Community. The Army Field Manual provides clear guidelines to personnel and specifically authorizes 19 interrogation techniques and specifically prohibits 8 techniques – including waterboarding, forced nudity, denial of food and water, and beatings. These tactics are considered immoral, unnecessary and counter-productive by General David Petraeus and other top military and civilian officials. They are also considered counterproductive by many Intelligence experts.

The House voted 225-188 to override Bush’s veto -- 51 votes shy of the number needed to overturn the President’s decision. Nearly every House Democrat voted to override the President.

“President Bush veto of this bill is deeply disturbing,” said Miller. “Our bill bars intelligence officials from using torture, like waterboarding and other harsh techniques. Torture is not only morally wrong but is also bad policy as the information gained from it can be highly unreliable. The reason to use the Army Field Manual is because the Field Manual works. Condoning state-sponsored torture, as the President has done by vetoing our bill, undermines our nation’s moral authority, puts American military and diplomatic personnel at-risk, and undermines the quality of intelligence we receive.”

The bill Bush vetoed invests in human intelligence, counterterrorism operations, and analysis to protect our nation and ensure that policymakers have access to accurate, timely and actionable intelligence.

“Under President Bush, several things have occurred that have undermined the moral standing of America in the world – including the use of waterboarding, the scandal at Abu Ghraib, and holding detainees without charge indefinitely at Guantanamo. America must begin to work to restore our moral standing – by working to erase these blemishes on our reputation,” said Miller. “This bill would have begun this process by banning state sanctioned torture and securing our nation at the same time. The President should have signed it into law.”