Bipartisan Heavyweights Tell Bush & Co. to Stop the Torture

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT
by Meg White

Many familiar signatures were on the bipartisan petition released Wednesday demanding the White House renounce the use of torture. Signers included three former Secretaries of State: Madeleine Albright, Warren Christopher, and George Shultz.

They were joined by more than a dozen other former State Department officials, eight former Defense Department officials, dozens of retired military officers, and even a handful of former interrogators from World War II. Also, dozens of legal, counterterrorism, and national security experts signed on. Scores of religious leaders attached their names and organizations to the document as well.

The Center for Victims of Torture, National Religious Campaign Against Torture, and Evangelicals for Human Rights together organized the so-called "Campaign to End Torture." The petition begins with a straightforward condemnation of the use of torture:

"Though we come from a variety of backgrounds and walks of life, we agree that the use of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment against prisoners is immoral, unwise, and un-American.

In our effort to secure ourselves, we have resorted to tactics which do not work, which endanger U.S. personnel abroad, which discourage political, military, and intelligence cooperation from our allies, and which ultimately do not enhance our security.

Our president must lead us by our core principles. We must be better than our enemies, and our treatment of prisoners captured in the battle against terrorism must reflect our character and values as Americans."

Readers can sign the petition online here.

A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT