Torture: Our U.S. Military Makes Me Proud

We have many reasons to be very proud of our U.S. military. I hope you read the story that I posted yesterday of Lieutenant Colonel Steven Miska who has gone to enormous lengths to safeguard the futures of the Iraqis who worked for him as interpreters and to bring them to safety in the United States.

This morning, I got an e-mail from Brigadier General David R. Irvine, USA (Ret.):

I taught prisoner of war interrogation for 18 years to U.S. Army soldiers. Neither I nor the Army taught torture: it’s morally wrong, it endangers our own troops who may be taken prisoner, it undermines our values, and it does not produce reliable information.

I’ve listened to some of our current leaders say that we should use torture – what they call “enhanced” interrogation techniques – to combat terrorism. Abandoning our principles is never the answer. An expert interrogator needs to be clever, not inhumane.

Strong presidential leadership is needed to restore our nation’s stature in the eyes of the civilized world. Today, one year from the presidential election, I am adding my name to Human Rights First’s petition, urging all of the presidential candidates to restore our nation’s honor. You can do the same.

More about the petition:

Join thousands of other Americans for Human Rights and sign Human Rights First’s petition to the presidential candidates asking them to commit to ending policies that have led to torture and tarnished the United States:

PETITION LINK

Elect to End Torture 08 is a nonpartisan campaign to make sure that the next President puts an end to policies allowing torture and cruel treatment and adopts a strong national security policy that is consistent with the laws and values of our nation.

PETITION LINK

And here is the rest of Gen Irvine’s e-mail:

This isn’t about being tough on terrorists. It’s about what’s in the strategic interest of the United States. Torture doesn’t produce reliable information but it does harden hearts and minds against us, and torture by any agency of our government puts our own troops at greater risk. It’s time to stop playing semantic games about what torture is.

If you’re like me, you want a President who is truly devoted to this country, its longstanding laws, and its fundamental values. A President who will:

• Stop shipping prisoners to countries known to torture
• Close Guantanamo
• Restore the right of habeas corpus
• Ensure that torture is never again a part of U.S. policy

Get on board – sign TODAY. This is not a partisan endeavor.

In one year, we could be celebrating the election of a leader who understands what’s at stake. But only if we demand it today! Thank you for joining me and Human Rights First as we end torture and abuse in America’s name.

Yours sincerely,

Brigadier General David R. Irvine, USA (Ret.)

BRAVO, Gen. Irvine! BRAVO! And thank you for your commendable service and for your courage in joining Human Rights First’s campaign.

PLEASE share this petition link with your friends. Let’s make this petition one of the biggest ever!