exemption from ban on torture as a technique -- seriously?

Sometimes, I can't believe BushCo's complete disregard for human life, especially the Cheney part of BushCo.

Vice President Dick Cheney made an unusual personal appeal to Republican senators this week to allow CIA exemptions to a proposed ban on the torture of terror suspects in U.S. custody, according to participants in a closed-door session.

Cheney told his audience the United States doesn't engage in torture, these participants added, even though he said the administration needed an exemption from any legislation banning “cruel, inhuman or degrading” treatment in case the president decided one was necessary to prevent a terrorist attack.

Is he serious?
Who in the world would get behind this?
Evidently, only 9 Senators are ok with torture. ("The Senate recently approved a provision banning the “cruel, inhuman or degrading” treatment of detainees in U.S. custody. The vote was 90-9.") I would argue that 9 Senators supporting the 'right' to torture anyone, terrorist or not, is far too many, but it's even more disturbing that our Vice President wants to make this absolutely legal.

Because, you know, this is really going to boost the world's perception of us.