Torture stands

So much for the attempt to override President Bush's veto of a bill that would have forbidden the CIA from using waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics.

The 225-188 House roll call Tuesday fell 51 votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to overturn a veto. The legislation would have restricted the CIA to using only the 19 interrogation methods approved in the Army field manual, which bans waterboarding and other torture.

The interrogation restrictions are part of a bill authorizing intelligence spending. While Republicans framed the bill as full of pork-barrel spending, Democrats insisted the debate was really about the use of torture.

President Bush explained the veto as not specifically about waterboarding but also concerned with giving the CIA flexibility to legally use interrogation not covered in the Army manual.

The president's desire to protect America against terrorism is a crucial goal. But we do not need to torture people to do it. There are other ways to keep America safe.

However, Congress had a chance to override the veto and failed to do it.