All of congress must stand against illegal torture
New evidence demonstrated in 2005 that torture and mistreatment have been a deliberate part of the Bush administration's counterterrorism strategy, undermining the global defense of human rights, Human Rights Watch said January 18, 2006 in releasing its World Report 2006. "Fighting terrorism is central to the human rights cause," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch. "But using illegal tactics against alleged terrorists is both wrong and counterproductive."
In legislation at our US Congress, a bill has been debated on the opposition of "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment"-- President Bush and Vice President Chaney want to exempt our Central Intelligence Agency from this! We must override the president's veto threat. "Responsibility for the use of torture and mistreatment can no longer credibly
be passed off to misadventures by low-ranking soldiers on the nightshift," said Roth. "The Bush administration must appoint a special prosecutor to examine these abuses, and Congress should set up an independent, bipartisan panel to investigate."
It is morally degrading to submit humans, under any condition, to torture. And it is illegal. That includes flying them to other countries in order to torture them. Congress must stand up to our president's administration, and say "no" to torture at any time. Our nation's leadership in the world rests upon it. Challenger candidates, this is your opportunity to take the moral high ground-- say "no" to torture as you campaign for our country's high public offices.
Source: Human Rights Watch
Comments
For a period of time I actually was leaning toward condoning a qualified level of torture in order to gain important information about one's enemy. My position softened tremendously in the past few years when some of the horror stories (and pictures) began appearing.
Yesterday, I observed some videos on the internet of the types of torture that were used when Sadaam was in power. Actually I would put these acts into mutilation rather than torture (if you can make such a distinction). I will not describe what I saw because it was too appalling.
What I know now is that the US needs to take a positive position in it's opposition to the use of torture to gain information or, for that matter, for any reason. We must take a leadership position on this issue.
Posted by: steve smith | January 26, 2006 10:35 AM