by TChris

News of a possible compromise between the White House and Republican senators over legislation authorizing military trials and interrogations of detainees is vague. It appears that the administration has given ground, but "few details were available, and it was not clear whether a compromise was imminent or whether the White House had shifted its stance significantly."

The new White House position, sent to Capitol Hill on Monday night, set off intensified negotiations between administration officials and a small group of Republican senators. The senators have blocked President Bush's original proposal for legislation to clarify which interrogation techniques are permissible and to establish trial procedures for terrorism suspects now in United States military custody.

If a compromise bill that satisfies Republicans finally emerges, Democrats will need to scrutinize it to assure that it leaves the Geneva Conventions intact, that it gives detainees a meaningful hearing with the procedural protections that due process requires (no secret evidence or unconfronted hearsay), and that it doesn't immunize government employees or officials from responsibility for past or future violations of human rights. Will enough Democrats be up to the task to assure that the United States stands firmly and finally in support of fair, just, and humane treatment of those it detains?