Update on the Cheney effort to shield himself from torture prosecution

Probably best to read this post first for context, but here's the short version:

McCain is now offering to allow CIA officers immunity from torture prosecution if they provide a defense that a reasonable person would have believed they were following a lawful order. The White House on the other hand is seeking a blanket immunity for those CIA officers. The difference?

Under McCain's provision, in their defense they would have to supply information as to who issued the order they thought was lawful. And once that ball starts rolling, a direct chain to who signed off on the unlawful orders to torture would be established. (And yes, I do see this argument over immunity as a tacit admission of torture.) So, now we know why Cheney might be fighting McCain so hard on the torture issue.

So, I'm keeping up with this, and today's tidbit.

On the issue of detainee treatment, Rumsfeld said negotiations between the White House and McCain were continuing. The White House hopes to reach a compromise that would satisfy administration concerns. ....

In recent days, Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, has been seeking some protection from prosecution for agents, in some cases, who are accused of violating the McCain provisions.....

But the White House isn't satisfied with that(McCain's position), and McCain, congressional aides say, has enough support in the House to stand his ground and insist on his provisions.

So, will they subject Dick Cheney to the methods he claims aren't torture to find out what he knows? They're not torture after all.

And, all this was buried way down at the bottom of an article titled, Troop Levels in Iraq may Drop, Rumsfeld says.