U.S. Senator Ron Wyden Discusses the Need for Interrogation Policy that is Smart, Effective, and Consistent with American Values
Click here to watch video of Senator Wyden delivering this speech.
Mr. Wyden: Mr. President, I thank my friend from Missouri.
I especially want to express my appreciation for the outstanding work of Senator Feinstein, my seat mate on the Intelligence Committee who I think really understands that it is possible in this country to fight terrorism ferociously and still be sensitive to American values and the rule of law. And that is what I want to spend a few minutes talking about because I think under the approach developed by Senator Feinstein, this legislation does that.
I want to start by responding to the point that my friend from Missouri has made about the most dangerous terrorists that we are involved in interrogating. It seems to me these individuals are literally human ticking time bombs. They have information, for example, about operations that we absolutely must have information on in order to protect the American people. But I have come to the conclusion that it is possible to get this circumstantial information that we need from these human ticking time bombs, the time sensitive-threat information, without practices that violate our values and violate the rule of law.
Mr. President, the reason I've come to that conclusion and why I so strongly support what Senator Feinstein is doing, that's what some of our key officials tell us in the executive branch. For example, just last week I asked F.B.I. Director Mueller whether it was possible to use non-coercive techniques in getting this information from human ticking time bombs and the director said, to his credit, "Yes, it is possible to use non-coercive techniques to get the information necessary" to protect the United States of America. In fact, the military has said it, as well.
And it is that core principle that Senator Feinstein has picked up in her work. She feels, as I do, that we'll take no back seat to anyone in terms of fighting the terrorists relentlessly; but we can do it, as Director Mueller and the military have said, in line with the rule of law and in line with American values.
With respect to the role of the military, they already abide by interrogation rules that are flexible and effective. They have been used by professional military interrogator with many years of experience and they are clearly effective.
Now, some have suggested - incorrectly in my view - that the military rules make better interrogators follow the same rules as new recruits, but that's not right. The Army Field Manual actually makes it quite clear which techniques are authorized for all service members and which require special permission. So there it is, the need for this legislation - just on the basis of the developments of the last few weeks - is even more important than it was. Because these practices that have come to light in the last few weeks have damaged our relations, damaged our moral authority, and the tragic part of this, on the basis of the answers from Mr. Mueller in open session this week and the military, is that these coercive techniques aren't effective or even necessary.
I share my friend from Missouri's view about how important it is to get this time-sensitive threat information. He and I have talked about this on many occasions, and of course we can't get into any of the matters that are classified. But I share his view.
But it is possible, colleagues, to get that information without breaching the values that Americans hold dearly and the rule of law. So I hope my colleagues will support the important work of the Senator from California. This is an issue that we have looked at. It has had bipartisan support in the past. I'm very appreciative of what Senator McCain, who knows a little about this has had to say in the past about fighting terrorism relentlessly and protecting our values. I hope my colleagues will support the efforts of the Senator from California and her case was strong several months ago. I think it is even stronger today on the basis of what we have learned in open session. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
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