March 12, 2008 | Torture survivor Orlando Dizon speaks during a rally to "demand Congressional action to stop torture," organized by The Washington Region Religious Campaign Against Torture on Capitol Hill, in Washington, DC. The Philippines's Marcos regime imprisoned and tortured Dizon from 1982 to 1986.
(Photo: Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
h/t to Truthout for photo and caption
The Washington Monthly has put forth a number of article and an editorial calling for an end to torture with no exceptions. You may read the editorial here.
Over the past decade, voters have had many legitimate worries: stagnant wages, corruption in Washington, terrorism, and a botched war in Iraq. But we believe that when Americans look back years from now, what will shame us most is that our country abandoned a bedrock principle of civilized nations: that torture is without exception wrong.
It is in the hopes of keeping the attention of the public, and that of our elected officials, on this subject that the writers of this collection of essays have put pen to paper. They include a former president, the speaker of the House, two former White House chiefs of staff, current and former senators, generals, admirals, intelligence officials, interrogators, and religious leaders. Some are Republicans, others are Democrats, and still others are neither. What they all agree on, however, is this: It was a profound moral and strategic mistake for the United States to abandon long-standing policies of humane treatment of enemy captives. We should return to the rule of law and cease all forms of torture, with no exceptions for any agency. And we should expect our presidential nominees to commit to this idea. —The Editors
h/t to Truthout
Check out the PBS coverage here.
This year's Oscar-winning feature documentary, "Taxi to the Dark Side," tells the story of an innocent Afghan taxi driver who died while being interrogated and tortured by U.S. soldiers. NOW interviews the film's director, Alex Gibney, about torture practices of the United States in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantánamo Bay, and how the issue is playing out in the presidential race. At the intersection of human rights, civil liberties, and national security, how should America respond?UN report on torture [pdf] info.
--the BB
1 comment:
As you have said before- the fact that this is even up for discussion says volumes, all of it tragic, about our culture.
Senor ten piedad.
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