Three RTs in One… “Senate votes to ban waterboarding”, “Senate threatens to down… Secret surveillance flights”, & “Bush-era officials can be sued”

These three kind of “popped up” from my RT feed today, so I chose to put ’em all in one. I’ll have a snip from each, and a caveat (if I deem necessary). They certainly (to me at least) indicate possible changes in direction from the USA Corp. governmental system.

6-16-15 Senate votes to ban waterboarding and other forms of torture

“The US Senate has voted to outlaw many forms of torture, including waterboarding, “rectal feeding,” mock executions, hooding prisoners, and sexual humiliation in any sector of the US government… the Senate agreed on an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that limits the US government to interrogation and detention rules delineated in the US Army Field Manual. The amendment also requires that US officials immediately notify the International Red Cross in the event of an individual taken into US custody or control.”

Caveat 1: This is a John McCain sponsored amendment. Caveat 2: So the implication is, “Some kinds of torture are okay, though.” How about eliminating “torture” completely?

6-18-15 FBI defends secret surveillance flights as Senate threatens to down them

“The unusual effort to justify the FBI’s spy activity comes after a bipartisan proposal that would require federal agents to get a warrant before snooping from above… the Protecting Individuals From Mass Aerial Surveillance Act would apply to both manned and drone flights, and provide clear rules for the government’s aerial surveillance… “Americans’ privacy rights shouldn’t stop at the treetops,” said Senator Wyden.”

Non-Caveat: seems like a step in the right direction for USA-humanity.

6-18-15 Bush-era officials can be sued for abuse of 9/11 detainees – court

” In a 2-1 ruling, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals decided that Bush-era heads of the Department of Justice, FBI and Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), can be sued for violating the constitutional rights of 762 men, described as “out-of-status aliens” because they either overstayed their visas or worked without permits. The case, known as Turkmen v. Ashcroft, was filed in 2002 by the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR). It names as defendants the former Attorney General John Ashcroft, former FBI Director Robert Mueller and former commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service James Ziglar.”

“We are thrilled with the court’s ruling,” said CCR attorney Rachel Meeropol. “The court took this opportunity to remind the nation that the rule of law and the rights of human beings, whether citizens or not, must not be sacrificed in the face of national security hysteria.”