Story: Bill on Interrogating Detainees Moves to Forefront in 'War on Terrorism' Debate, 09/25/06
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/features/july-dec06/terror_9-25.html


 Reading Comprehension Questions:

1. Where are the most notorious suspects in the "war on terror" held?

 

 

 

 

2. What did the Supreme Court decide in June?

 

 

 

 

3. What was President Bush's main concern about any compromise law?

 

 

 

 

4. What are the Geneva Conventions?

 

 

 

 

5. What guarantees did influential Republican senators want for new rules in the "war on terror?"

 

 

 

 

6. Name three influential Republican senators that participated in the compromise with President Bush.

 

 

 

 

7. What program did President Bush call the "most potent tool we have in protecting America?"

 

 

 

 

8. What law spells out illegal interrogation techniques?

 

 

 

 

9. What law would determine how evidence could be obtained?

 

 

 

 

10. How would secret evidence be presented in terrorism trials?

 

 

 

 

Discussion Activity (more research might be needed):

1. Do you agree or disagree with this statement: "It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to fighting terrorism." Why or why not?

2. If you were part of the terror legislation negotiations, which side would you take on the following issues? Why?

  • Guarantees against torture (Republican Senators)
  • Assurances defendants could view evidence used to convict them (Republican Senators)
  • Limits to interrogation techniques as added to U.S. law (Republican Senators)
  • Protection for CIA agents from prosecution for previous interrogation of suspects (President Bush)
  • Redefinition of the U.S. government's responsibility under the Geneva Conventions (President Bush)
  • Allowing CIA interrogators to do whatever they think is necessary to stop a terrorist attack (President Bush)

3. Do you think information obtained by coercion can or should be used in a trial? How would you determine if the information is credible? Do you think allowing information obtained by interrogation to be used in courts increases the chance that interrogators will use improper methods?

4. Why are senators concerned about the use of torture in interrogations of terrorism suspects? How does politics play into this debate?

Write a 300-500 word essay on any of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site.