Senate rejects ban on civilian interrogators

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Senate rejected a proposal Wednesday to phase out interrogations by civilian contractors at Guantanamo Bay, in Afghanistan and in Iraq.

The proposal failed 54 to 43 mostly along party lines. But even opponents of the measure said too many civilians are involved in intelligence gathering.

Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Connecticut, who put forward the amendment, said the Abu Ghraib prison scandal requires Senate action, and private contractors have no place interrogating prisoners.

"It's the 21st century, the war is on terrorism, let's wake up," Dodd said.

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<http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/06/16/interrogations.vote/index.html>