Harsh Terror Tactics Eased After Concerns (By Bush Admin)

[RamboLiberal]

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=544&u=/ap/20040623/ap_on_go_pr_wh/prisoner_abuse_dissension_1&printer=1

The Bush administration didn't ease its hard-line tactics for interrogating terror suspects until after concerns were raised repeatedly by State Department and military officials worried about violating international and U.S. law, memos released by the White House show.

In an order less than four months after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, President Bush (news - web sites) said the Geneva Conventions on treatment of prisoners did not apply to al-Qaida and Taliban suspects such as those imprisoned at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Bush's order in February 2002 followed the advice of Justice Department (news - web sites) lawyers who argued the conventions couldn't apply to an international terrorist group or militia members who did not follow the laws of war themselves.

On the losing side of the argument: Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites), who vigorously opposed carving out exceptions to the Geneva Conventions.