Write to U.S. Senators
Comment by Larry Ross, May 17, 2006
Whatever U.S. Senators do, or don't do, can effect you. For example if the U.S. Senate wishes to stop a war on Iran, or withdraw troops from Iraq, or endorse or reject the president's choice for head of the CIA, it can effect whether the U.S. continues to torture it's imprisoned suspects. U.S. Senators have considerable power if they wish to use it to stop wars, deny or approve funding for the military.
If they approve a course of action that leads the world toward a World War III, or continues to approve laws that increase the power of George Bush as America is moved ever closer to becoming a fascist-type state, it can effect you and the policies toward your country. A world war III can destroy all humanity. U.S. Senators have the power and intelligence to prevent such disasters. So in a way, U.S. Senators are everyone's Senators. Their decisions, or lack of decisions, can effect you.
So wherever you live in the world, you can write to U.S. Senators about things you would like to happen, or not happen - such as torturing prisoners as expressed in the following letter by " Human Rights First" Although you may not approve of particular Senators, it is important to write a polite letter to them if you want it to count for favourable attention to your request.
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Demand a CIA Chief Who Upholds Torture Ban
From: Jill Savitt, Human Rights First, To Larry Ross, May 17, 2006
Dear Larry,
There is a chance for the Central Intelligence Agency to clear its name - to signal a new era by stating clearly that the CIA does not and will not engage in torture.
Up until now, the Central Intelligence Agency has reportedly been involved in some of the most serious incidents of torture of detainees in U.S. custody. The outgoing CIA director, Porter Goss, actually said that "waterboarding" - whereby a prisoner is tied to a board and subject to a mock drowning - is a "professional" interrogation tactic. Mock executions are clearly prohibited under both U.S. and international law.
Will the nominee for CIA director, Gen. Michael Hayden, say the same? Or will he signal a new era by upholding basic standards of humane treatment - not to mention the law?
It is the Senate's job to find out during the CIA director confirmation hearings this month.
Click here to ask your Senators to insist on a CIA director that promises to enforce the law against cruel and inhuman treatment.
The new torture ban, sponsored by Sen. John McCain and others and overwhelmingly passed last year, established a single standard of humane treatment of all prisoners. The ban applies across the government.
Gen. Michael Hayden must vow to ban torture and cruel treatment, without exception. Our Senators should be confident about this before confirming him. Write your Senators today and demand that the new CIA chief be someone who has respect for the longstanding tradition in the U.S. of protecting human rights.
Click here to write your Senators today.
It takes only a moment of your time, and it could shape the CIA's interrogation policy for years to come.
Thank you so much for joining Human Rights First's efforts to end torture and abuse committed in America's name.
Jill Savitt
Director of Campaigns
Human Rights First
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