Bush Caved?

I'm not sure I'm willing to believe it yet.

AP is reporting (via here) that Bush has caved on McCain's amendment regarding torture. It would make sense given the House vote yesterday which was overwhelmingly in favor of McCain.

McCain's original amendment would have prohibited "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment" of anyone in U.S. government custody, regardless of where they are held. It also would have required that service members follow procedures in the Army Field Manual during interrogations of prisoners in Defense Department facilities.

That's all well, and good. Except for this story yesterday:

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 - The Army has approved a new, classified set of interrogation methods that may complicate negotiations over legislation proposed by Senator John McCain to bar cruel and inhumane treatment of detainees in American custody, military officials said Tuesday.

The techniques are included in a 10-page classified addendum to a new Army field manual that was forwarded this week to Stephen A. Cambone, the under secretary of defense for intelligence policy, for final approval, they said.

So let's recount the bidding.

The McCain amendment requires adherence to the field manual. Rummy has had the manual changed to allow torture. So why not support the McCain amendment?

I'm not holding my breath that the administration has really given up on this issue.