WASHINGTON, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- President George W. Bush and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Thursday announced a tentative deal to ban interrogation torture by U.S. troops and personnel.
"This is a done deal," said McCain, a former POW who was tortured in Vietnam, following a White House meeting with the president and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John Warner, R-Va.
"Sen. McCain has been a leader to make sure that the United States of America upholds the values of America as we fight and win this war on terror," Bush said. "And we've been happy to work with him to achieve a common objective, and that is to make it clear to the world that this government does not torture and that we adhere to the international convention on torture whether it be here or abroad."
McCain said the non-binding resolution approved by a 308 to 102 vote in the House had sent a message to the world "that the United States is not like the terrorists."
"What we are is a nation that upholds values and standards of behavior and treatment of all people no matter how evil or bad they are," McCain said.
Warner told CNN the House and Senate would vote on the torture ban quickly.
