I made a commitment to write to my senators by Monday about the torture of the Iraqi prisoners, and to post a diary when I had done that. I am embarrassed to admit that it took me
six hours to write five short paragraphs. No wonder I'd never done more than "Click Here! to e-mail your representatives" before.
I found a pretty neat website that will hand deliver letters to congress people ($9.95 for 3 letters) with the option of posting the letter online for everyone to read. There was one very interesting (sad and scary) one there about the military manipulating discharge dates to keep people from being able to leave.
I don't know if it is true or not, but this woman paid five bucks to get this
letter hand delivered to her senator (Senator Edwards, incidentally) so I'm inclined to believe her. Her husband is in the Marines and has already served a tour of duty in Afghanistan.
HE WAS TOLD ON MAY 3RD THAT HE WAS BEING DEPLOYED TO IRAQ AS THE RESULT OF A LOTTERY POOL IN WHICH HIS NAME WAS DRAWN. HE WAS TOLD THAT PART OF THE CRITERIA INCLUDED NOT BEING DISCHARGED FROM THE MILITARY ON OR BEFORE NOV 16,2004. WHATS CONCERNING IS THAT MY HUSBAND'S DISCHARGE DATE IS OCTOBER 16,2004. SO HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN IN THE POOL. WHEN HE AND SEVERAL OTHER GUYS BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THEIR COMMANDING OFFICER, THE DATE WAS INTENTIONALLY CHANGED INFRONT OF THEM TO OCTOBER 15,2004.
There's really not much else to say. I'm so tired of being disgusted and still surprised by what is going on. Here's my own letter, with facts and ideas and inspiration from many people on this board, including Yamaneko, kid oakland, C S Crum, Meteor Blades. Given the fact that it took me 6 hours to write the damn thing (fact checking on the web has a very short half life), I'm obviously not a very good plagiarist. I'm sure it will be easier next time.
Dear Senator:
I am writing to you about the horrific reports of torture from Iraq. Mr. Rumsfeld must resign. This happened under his watch and he must take full responsibility. The whole world is watching us with disgust and we have done nothing but make excuses.
This is a criminal matter, not a political one. Appoint a special prosecutor and pursue the matter within the legal system. We must convict the people responsible for these heinous crimes at all levels: those who committed them, those who facilitated them, and those who willfully ignored them.
The so-called "contractors" should also be held fully accountable. US civilians can be prosecuted for acts of torture or conspiracy to commit torture outside of the United States: see US Code Title 18, Section 2340A. There is no reason for them not to be prosecuted for these horrendous crimes.
Given what we have seen over the past few days, I call for a thorough investigation of the conditions at Guantanamo Bay, and demand that we have full access to information on the detainees. Either they are POWs covered by the Geneva Conventions (Cliffs Notes: NO TORTURE) or they are civilians and are entitled to legal representation.
My fervent desire is that America join the International Criminal Court and be held to the same standards as other civilized nations. This move might help us regain some credibility in the eyes of the international community. In the meantime, I dread the day another one of our troops is taken POW.
Sincerely,
Helen [in MD]