In Panama today, President Bush fielded questions from reporters about whether or not the U.S. approves of torture:

"We do not torture," Bush declared in response to reports of secret CIA prisons overseas.

Bush supported an effort spearheaded by Vice President Dick Cheney to block or modify a proposed Senate-passed ban on torture.

"We're working with Congress to make sure that as we go forward, we make it possible, more possible, to do our job," Bush said. "There's an enemy that lurks and plots and plans and wants to hurt America again. And so, you bet we will aggressively pursue them. But we will do so under the law."

But we do torture! First of all, Vice President Cheney tried as hard as his heart would allow to get a Senate amendment defeated. This amendment would make it illegal for U.S. officials to torture captives. When Cheney couldn't get the entire amendment defeated, he at least lobbied to have an exemption made for the CIA. If the United States doesn't torture people, then why must an exemption be made?

Second, the amendment enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support. In a recent test vote in the Senate, the amendment garnered 90 votes for and 9 votes against. Nevertheless, Bush has promised to veto legislation with such an amendment. This is why John McCain has vowed to insert this amendment into every piece of Senate legislation until the amendment becomes law. Why would President Bush veto legislation containing an amendment which enjoys such bipartisan support? He proclaimed himself to be "a uniter, not a divider." And yet, even though he maintains that the United States does not torture, he would veto a bill condemning torture.

Third, we have many memoranda showing that the Bush administration does not consider enemies captured in the War on Terr' to be prisoners of war as defined by the Geneva Convention, and therefore, they do not have the rights afforded prisoners of war under the Geneva Convention.