Ex-Cabinet Members Press Bush to Ban Torture

[sabra]

Source: ABC News

ABC News' Kirit Radia and Jennifer Parker Report: Turning up the volume on the heated debate over the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, a bipartisan group of former cabinet members, military leaders and religious leaders released a signed statement Wednesday calling on President Bush to ban 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," a coalition of over 200 high-profile leaders from every administration dating back to the Johnson era said in the statement released Wednesday.

They called on Bush to issue an executive order affirming principles including the rule of law, waterboarding, and end rendition -- a controversial practice where the US sends foreign nationals back to their home countries where they may face torture and interrogation.

"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," the statement read.

...

High profile former administration officials signed onto the statement, including former secretaries of state George Shultz, Madeleine Albright, and Warren Christopher; former secretaries of defense Harold Brown, William Perry and William Cohen; Former Deputy Secretaries of State Richard Armitage; former national security advisors Zbigniew Brzezinski, Anthony Lake, and Samuel R. Berger; former Sens. Charles S. Robb, Chair of the Iraq Intelligence Commission, John Glenn, Sam Nunn, and Gary Hart; and former Gov. Thomas Kean, 9/11 Commission Chair.

Read more: http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/06/ex-cabinet-memb.html

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. It's doesn't get more powerful than this

Then you read that last paragraph, and you just want to slap the crap out of every White House thug.

[frogcycle]

4. it's not torture if they say it isn't

They have already banned "torture." They don't draw-and quarter, at least not publicly. See, it's not torture if nobody knows about it. Like the tree that falls in the forest.

Pian, death, suffering, etc are just fine, as long as nobody is watching. Being watched would be embarrassing, and THAT would be torture. So they banned anybody knowing about it.

It's actually all very tidy. Move along, nothing to see here.

[fascisthunter]

2. The Fact That People Have to Encourage Him to Ban Torture

shows how mentally sick he really is.

[The Blue Flower]

3. They don't read their mail anymore

Nice try, though.

[Bunkie0913]

5. Interesting comments posted on ABC news

All comments were supportive of the OP not one loyal Bushie (that 23% who still think he is keeping us safe and spreading democracy, winning hearts and minds) has joined in to stand up for the Decider.

[unblock]

6. torture.is.already.banned!

it's already against domestic and international law and numerous treaties.

they're just asking him to abide by the law, for a change.

[jtrockville]

7. Yes it is. Yet he ordered it anyway. Now we're all begging.

[bluesmail]

8. *Us* sociopaths don't torture and don't lie about it.

Even when we get caught, We Don't Torture!!!