A Letter to Dr. Sharon Stephens Brehm, APA President

Also posted at Invictus and NION

The following letter was sent to the President of the American Psychological Association, following the call by a regular Daily Kos blogger for action to support the proposed moratorium against using psychologists in national security interrogations, since they have been compromised by copious reports and evidence of torture.

Dear Dr. Brehm,

I write to support Dr. Reisner's proposed moratorium. There is more than adequate evidence to demonstrate that psychologists have been involved in unethical and probably illegal interrogations, especially those related to work in Special Forces and BSCT teams.

I know of at least two specific instances of documented, direct psychologist misconduct during interrogations. Additionally, Former Army Surgeon General Kiley wrote in his report that BSCT hires from 2004 were primarily psychologists. If you put this simple fact together with the latest report from the International Red Cross on ongoing torture and misconduct concerning treatment of detainees and interrogations at Guantanamo, you have a high likelihood of psychologist misconduct.

The moratorium also must go with a greater openness and an end to secrecy surrounding the activities of the BSCT teams. Redacted documents should be released in unaltered form, and APA must demand this.

The future of the APA hangs by a thin thread, and it would be folly not to recognize this. I am an APA member, and talking with other members, I know that unhappiness with APA leadership on this question is wide-spread.

I also know that you have a tough job, and that many APA members support the current situation, including many in Division 19, but not only inclusive of them.

The history of professional, especially academic, psychology in collaborating with government entities in the preparation of interrogations that use torture is a sordid part of our history. It must end now if psychology is to emerge in the 21st century as a progressive and positive scientific force.

Otherwise, it will be anathemized and become, in the public's mind, congruent with the worst elements of human nature. If you think this is impossible, I ask you to reflect upon the Lysenko scandal among geneticists in the old Soviet Union.

Psychology may suffer soon the same fate. It will take leadership and courage to lead our guild away from this terrible future. I pray you have the wisdom to follow this course.

Sincerely,
XXXX XXXXXX, Ph.D.
San Francisco, CA

•  Help stop torture

  Support the campaign to get the APA to prevent its membership from being key elements of Bush's torture teams.

  Write or call the APA:

  American Psychological Association
  750 First Street, NE
  Washington, DC 20002-4242
  [phone]
  [phone]

  Write and call, now. Let them know how upset you are.

  Send an email to the Public Affairs Office of the APA, expressing your outrage:

  [e-mail]

  Phone the Ethics Office directly at [phone] or use APA's toll free number [phone], extension 5930, and give them a piece of your mind.

  And finally, write to the President of the APA, Dr. Sharon Stephens Brehm. Be nice, be polite, but be firm (this is true for ALL communications).

  Dr. Brehm has a web page, Ask the President. Follow the link to leave an email message directly for her.

  by Valtin on Sun May 13, 2007 at 07:46:27 PM PDT

•  Thanks for the info!

  I agree that the APA should take a very strong stand.

  by JPete on Sun May 13, 2007 at 07:51:57 PM PDT

  •  Thanks, and please call or write them

    I can't know how many letters or phone calls APA has gotten thus far from this campaign, but I know it's not been by far enough.

    So please, talk this up with friends. Write your favorite front pager and tell them to promote it. Put links on your blogs, be creative!

    Thanks JPete!

    by Valtin on Sun May 13, 2007 at 07:58:38 PM PDT

    •  good ideas! nt

      by JPete on Sun May 13, 2007 at 09:29:16 PM PDT