President Lobbies Against Congressional Drive to Outlaw Torture

President Bush vigorously defended U.S. interrogation practices in the war on terror Monday and lobbied against a congressional drive to outlaw torture.

"There's an enemy that lurks and plots and plans and wants to hurt America again," Bush said. "So you bet we will aggressively pursue them but we will do so under the law."

He declared, "We do not torture."

Over White House opposition, the Senate has passed legislation banning torture. With Vice President Dick Cheney as the point man, the administration is seeking exemption for the CIA.

It was recently reported that the spy agency maintains a network of prisons in eastern Europe and Asia, where it holds terrorist suspects.

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