Lindsey Graham: “No. 1, I would like to recognize that Senator Stevens, who has so honorably served our country, is genuinely concerned…”

“No. 1, I would like to recognize that Senator Stevens, who has so honorably served our country, is genuinely concerned about the extent of this amendment. For those of you who are listening, Senator Stevens was a World War II pilot. He has gone in harm's way in defending his country. We have in the Chamber his counterpart on the Appropriations Committee, Senator Inouye, a Medal of Honor winner, and the Senator occupying the chair is a former POW. The food chain is going down when I am speaking. But what I want to try to discuss today is from a lawyer's point of view and really from a citizen's point of view. I have had the honor for the last 20-some years to be a member of the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the Air Force, a prosecutor, a defense counsel, and I am now a Reserve military judge. That experience has been a wonderful experience. I have received more out of it than given. Wearing the uniform in any capacity is quite an honor, and to be a military lawyer has been one of the highlights of my life. I have never been shot at. I had some clients who probably wanted to kill me. But other than that, I do understand this debate pretty well. To me, it is not much of a debate. We have as a nation adopted the position that Senator McCain described when it comes to how you handle people in your care and custody. One thing I would respond to Senator Stevens is that the Army Field Manual has sort of been the bible for interrogation for decades.…”