Jay Rockefeller: “I commend Senator Levin and others for their leadership in proposing this amendment. I am proud to be an original…”

“I commend Senator Levin and others for their leadership in proposing this amendment. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the amendment based on the belief that a comprehensive, objective, and independent investigation into the collection of intelligence through the detention, interrogation, and rendition of prisoners is long overdue. While I am a strong supporter of the amendment, I regret greatly the fact that we have been forced to seek the creation of a national commission on such a critically important matter that falls squarely within the oversight responsibility of the Congress. Unfortunately, Congress's unwillingness to carry out these oversight duties in the past year has left us with no remaining alternative but to seek the creation of a national commission. Why do I say this? The collection of intelligence through interrogation and rendition is an extremely important part of our counterterrorism effort. The interrogation of captured terrorists and insurgents is, in fact, one of the most important of intelligence tools. We must ensure that those interrogations are carried out in a proper and effective manner. This tool, as with all others, must be applied within the bounds of our laws and our own national moral framework, and it must be subject to the same scrutiny and congressional oversight as every other aspect of intelligence. This, unfortunately, has not been the case.…”