Happy Monday and welcome to the Dog’s letter writing series torture accountability. The point of this series it to keep the issue of accountability under the law for the state sponsored torture program of the Bush Administration alive and moving forward. This is a long fight, as any legal issue is likely to be, but by consistently writing the decision makers and making the case for the rule of law we make it clear there are citizens who believe the rule of law trumps all political motivation.
"Originally posted at Squarestate.net"
For those who have not seen this series before, the way it works is simple, the Dog writes a letter on Mondays to one of the decision makers and provides the links to send this letter off. You get involved by using the letter in part or in whole and sending it off over your own signature.
This week we will be writing Attorney General Holder with copies to the President, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Reid, Judiciary Chairs Leahy and Conyers and Rep. Jerry Nadler who also sits on the House Judiciary Committee.
Dear Attorney General Holder;
I write you today in regards to an issue which your Department has sadly dropped the ball on. This is the issue of the Bush Administrations apparent state sponsored terrorism program.
There is no doubt from the public evidence that the United States engaged in acts of premeditated torture, not just with the prisoners we waterbaorded, but with other prisoners in a wide range of cases.
As you know torture is not just a single act under the International Conventions Against Torture (ICAT), but can also be the totality of the a prisoners treatment. How prisoners are treated over the entire time they are held by the United States can rise to the level of torture. In fact several of the current prisoners at the Guantanamo Bay prison were deemed un-trialable by the Convening Authority at the end of the Bush administration for this very reason.
The legal arguments for stronger action by your Department are many and well known, but there is an overriding argument that you must give some credence to, given the recent attempted bombing of Northwest flight 253.
Since this failed attempt there have been calls for Mr. Abdulmutallab to be transferred to Guantanamo Bay and questioned using the so-called "harsh interrogation methods". There were even those in the media like MSNBC commentator Pat Buchanan who suggested that medical treatment should be denied Mr. Abdulmutallab until he gave up any and all information he might have.
I do not have to tell you that to deny such treatment would be a clear violation of the Geniva Conventions and if done to illicit information a violation of the ICAT. I am aware that your administration would not consider doing this, but it is the call for these types of actions that I want to bring to your attention.
The President has said that he wants to look forward, not backwards in regards to torture. He has ordered the end of torture policies, but this is not enough. As long as there is no accountability under the law for those who knowingly ordered the torture of prisoners in the misguided idea that it would illicit usable intelligence there will be this pressure to torture when we take new terrorists into custody.
That a well-known commentator and former Presidential candidate can argue for the torture of Mr. Abdulmutallab through the denial of medical treatment with no repercussions shows just how pernicious the acceptance of torture has become. It will not change if there is not action to show that anyone who ignores the laws of this nation against torture, for whatever reasons, is vulnerable to prosecution.
Mr. Attorney General, you have it in your power to fight back against this meme becoming accepted. In fact, you are the sole person in this nation who can take action to fully investigate and where evidence exists of intent and culpability to indict and try the offenders. If you fail to do so, then some time in the future, after this administration, there will be an administration that has less moral fortitude and will bow to that pressure. At that point, sir, you will be in some measure responsible for their actions. This is not a legacy you should be comfortable with.
Please, Attorney General Holder, stand up for the rule of law. Show the Founders ideal of a nation of laws, not men is still in effect. The way is clear; appoint a Special Prosecutor to fully investigate the credible charges of torture and conspiracy to commit torture. It is the right thing to do, it is the law, and it is in your hands.
Regards;
CC:
President Obama
Speaker Pelosi
Majority Leader Reid
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Leahy
House Judiciary Committee Chair Conyers
Rep. Jerry Nadler
There is the years first letter, you will find the links to send it to below:
AG Holder can be reached at AskDOJ@usdoj.gov. Be sure to put Attention AG Holder in the subject line.
The White House, Attention President Obama
Speaker Nancy Pelosi
Majority Leader Harry Reid
Rep John Conyers - Judiciary Committee Chair
Chairman Leahy
Representative Jerry Nadler
(to get past Rep. Nadler's filter use Zip Code 11224-4561 and the address of 445 Neptune Ave, Brooklyn, NY)
Now it is up to you. We can ignore this issue, live with the status quo and be sure that there will be more torture of prisoners in the future, or we can take action. If we act, then we have tried to prevent any future torture.
The floor is yours.