Water boarding demonstration: The practice of Water boarding is a severe form of inhumane torture. - File photo

On Tuesday, March 11, the bill vetoed by United States President George W. Bush had failed to be overridden. If the bill had passed, it would be illegal for operatives of the CIA to use harsh and brutal interrogation techniques such as waterboarding to extract information from those who are suspected of carrying acts of terrorism. The method of waterboarding has been banned by the Army field manual which is used by the CIA. Waterboarding has become a major political issue in the United States within the last few months. This method when implemented pours water down a person’s face and throat. In turn, it would feel like that the person was drowning. It has been confirmed that this method has been used during 2002 and 2003 during the interrogation of three terror suspects. There were 51 one votes short in the United States House of Representatives. Without the essential 51 votes, House Democrats were unable to override Bush’s veto. “I cannot sign into law a bill that would prevent me, and future presidents, from authorizing the CIA to conduct a separate, lawful intelligence program, and from taking all lawful actions necessary to protect Americans from attack,” President Bush said in regards of standing by his veto of the anti-torture bill. GOP nominee John McCain said that Bush should veto the bill back in February. But, his vote was deemed to be controversial because he opposed the method of waterboarding. This could possibly be used as ammunition against McCain in the general election race. There is a high chance that the use of waterboarding will be an issue in the general election race.