On the recordNovember 30, 2011
I thank the Senator for the question. The answer is, no; we are not. We believe torture violates our laws and runs counter to American values. That is what I believe. That is why we specifically require the techniques developed by the Secretary of Defense, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Attorney General have to comply with the U.N. Convention Against Torture and all applicable laws, including the Detainee Treatment Act. Thus, the ACLU's claim the amendment threatens to revive the use of torture is patently false, unfortunately. Currently, the Army Field Manual interrogation techniques our intelligence community interrogators must follow are publicly listed online. That is unacceptable. It is like the New England Patriots giving their opponents their playbook days or weeks before the game begins. In my experience as attorney general of New Hampshire and as a murder prosecutor, no detective or cop in even a common criminal case would tell the criminals what techniques they are going to use to gather information. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority leader.
