I am not a lawyer and I didn’t even sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but how could President Bush threaten to veto a bill that would require U.S. intelligence agencies to follow Army rules adopted last year that explicitly forbid waterboarding? The bill, which passed the House of Representatives last night, would also require interrogators to adhere to a strict interpretation of the Geneva Conventions on the treatment of prisoners of war.

As signatures to the Geneva Conventions our nation needs to adhere to this vital and humane international treaty.  However, this latest waving of the veto pen by our president appears to be just another act of defiance that must be turned around.

Today’s New York Times notes this by editorializing:

During the presidential campaign, candidates from both parties will warn of the risk of another terrorist attack on this country. Americans should insist that they also explain how they will repair the damage President Bush has done to America’s intelligence-gathering capabilities in the name of fighting terrorism….

The recent disclosure that the Central Intelligence Agency destroyed videotapes of the interrogation of two Al Qaeda prisoners was a stark reminder of the catastrophic blunder that Congress made by enacting the Military Commissions Act of 2006. In addition to creating kangaroo courts to try the Guantánamo detainees, the bill permitted Mr. Bush to abrogate the Geneva Conventions by creating secret, extra-legal rules for interrogations by intelligence agents.

Meanwhile, at The Huffington Post, political reporter Sam Stein writes about 30 retired admirals and generals urging members of Congress to ignore Bush’s veto threat and “pass legislation requiring U.S intelligence agents to follow strict standards for detainee treatment.”

Isn’t it about time we as a nation live up to the standards we request of other nations when it comes to human rights?  And, whatever happened to the Commander in Chief taking his lead from military leaders?  On this issue – and many others – the president would be wise to listen more and put his pen in his pocket.