Someone who authorized techniques which are torture is running for the US Senate.
I need YOUR help.
On September 14th, 2003, Lt General Ricardo Sanchez, then the Supreme Commander of Forces in Iraq, authorizing the following techniques, among others, to be used in the interrogation of prisoners in Iraq.
U. Environmental Manipulation: Altering the environment to create moderate discomfort (e.g. adjusting temperature or introducing an unpleasant smell). Conditions may not be such that they injure the detainee. Detainee is accompanied by interrogator at all times. [Caution: Based on court cases in other countries, some nations may view application of this technique in certain circumstances to be inhumane. Consideration of these views should be given prior to use of this technique.]
V. Sleep Adjustment: Adjusting the sleeping times of the detainee (e.g. reversing sleep cycles from night to day). This technique is NOT sleep deprivation.
X. Isolation: Isolating the detainee from other detainees while still complying with basic standards of treatment. [Caution: the use of isolation as an interrogation technique requires detailed implantation instructions, including specific guidelines regarding length of isolation by the 205th MI BDE Commander. Use of this technique for more than 30 days, whether continuous or not, must be briefed to 205th MI BDE Commander prior to implementation.
Y. Presence of Military Working Dog: Exploits Arab fear of dogs while maintaining security during interrogations. Dogs will be muzzled and under control of MWD handler at all times to prevent contact with detainee.
Z. Sleep Management : Detainee provided minimum 4 hours sleep per 24 hour period, not to exceed 72 continuous hours.
AA. Yelling, Loud Music, and Light Control: Used to create fear, disorient detainee and prolong capture shock. Volume Controlled to prevent injury.
CC. Stress Postions: Use of physical postures (sitting, standing, kneeling, prone, etc.) for no more than one hour per use. Use of techniques will not exceed 4 hours and adequate rest between use of each position will be provided.
Please notice the cautions within these paragraphs, which says to me that he knew what he was doing. Please also note that at one point it notes that sleep adjustment is not sleep deprivation, but does not make the same point about sleep management.
Let there be no doubt, these techniques, especially when taken together, are torture. They were used to try to force the prisoner to give the interrogator the information they wanted, whether the prisoner had that information or not.
The authorization of these technques lead to this:
That is the use of enviromental manipulation (via the stripping of clothing, and the use of military working dogs.
And it lead to this:
That is the use of enviromental manipulation, through the stripping of clothing, and stress positions.
As Jane Mayer states in her book, "The Dark Side":
Sanchez didn't wait long to authorize the harsher tactics. He approved the first instance of detainee isolation on September 15 and the first instances of military interrogators removing detainee clothing on September 16. Military dogs appeared in abu Ghraib's interrogation chambers soon after. According to an internal Pentagon document, known as the Fay-Jones report, "Abusing detainees with dogs started almost immediately after the dogs arrived at Abu Ghraib."
And yet, when the photographs of prisoners being tortured at abu Ghraib were given to the authorities he punished Army Reserve Brigadier General Janis Karpinski instead of taking responsibility and resigning himself.
Jane Mayer also cites Sanchez' as "charging the Bush Adminstration with 'gross negligence' and 'dereliction of duty' for sweeping away the Geneva Conventions and providing no guidance to armed forces in their place. By doing so, he said, 'The civilian leaders at the highest levels of our government ... unleashed the hounds of Hell, and no seemed to have the moral courage to get the animals back in their cage.'"
There's a problem with what he said though, because Ricardo Sanchez himself didn't look at the list of techniques and realize that some of them were torture, not even when he read the cautions. He didn't stand up and say, "I will not do this", and resign. Well, as the saying goes, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" and Ricardo Sanchez allowed evil to triumph.
Now, Mr. Sanchez wants not just to be left off the hook for his conduct, not just to walk away scott free from what was his responsiblity, he wants to be rewarded. Ricardo Sanchez is running for the Senate of the United States. He is running to be one of the US Senators from Texas, in the race to succeed Kay Bailey Hutchison. He is not just running for the Senate of the United States, he is running as a Democrat.
http://ricsanchez.com/
Friends, we need to do everything we can to stop this man from being rewarded for his conduct. There is no question that the name recognition he has, and therefore his ability to be a viable candidate in the election comes from his time as a military leader in Iraq. Therefore, if he wins this election, he will have been handsomely rewarded for authorizing torture.
Please, help me stop this.
You remember that feeling in your heart, as a human being and as an American when you saw the photos. You remember how sick you felt in your soul and in your gut that this had been done in your name. Now is the time to do something.
We need, we MUST find a better candidate.
We MUST find a better Democratic candidate.
Please, stand up and tell your friends and neighbours in Texas not to vote for Ricardo Sanchez. Please write letters to the editor, call in to radio shows, post on your blog, post on facebook, send out tweets, mobilize to stop the rewarding of torture.
I can't stop him myself, but together we can.
Standing for justice and accountability,
For Dan,
Heather