Dissecting the Detainee Deal

By DEPARTMENT Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006

Who won and who lost in the compromise on how the CIA may handle its alleged terrorist detainees, reached between the President and Senate mavericks John McCain, Lindsey Graham and John Warner? It's hard to say, and lawmakers may still tweak the bill before it lands on Bush's desk. But here's a tally of what the President, Senators and detainees did--and did not--get last week. [This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine.]

The President The Senators The Detainees What They Won The CIA can continue interrogating suspected terrorists in secret jails, with interrogators given legal protection. Nixed: Bush's bid to formally reinterpret the Geneva Conventions to allow interrogation techniques some view as inhumane. Prisoners and their lawyers will be able to see edited versions of the classified evidence to be used against them. What They Lost Bush agreed to make public some details about the program's tactics, giving Congress and citizens a chance to object. The Senators will let the CIA keep some "off the books" detainees. They could be subject to abuse verging on torture. The bill would effectively void habeas corpus petitions of detainees who have demanded to be either charged or freed.