Fighting To Stop Torture
OK, enough double-talk and obfuscations from the Republicans. Let's get it out in the open: who believes the United States should never use torture, and who does not?
No more statements like the typical Republican response, "We won't comment on specific procedures we may or may not do." Let's get specific and show everyone what makes America America: We don't torture, and waterboarding is torture.
I opposed Judge Mukasey's nomination because of his refusal to take a stand on whether or not waterboarding is torture.
But he said that if Congress passed a law that made it clear where we stood on this reprehensible practice, he'd enforce it. So, here we go: let's define waterboarding as torture once and for all.
I'm a cosponsor of Sen. Kennedy's bill that defines a wide variety of specific things as torture, including waterboarding. It's another reminder why I am so proud to be Ted's colleague. But it's also another reminder that those who suggest there's nothing we can do to stop a run-away executive are just dead wrong - if we've got the courage of our convictions.
But, like everything we try to do, we're going to have to ram it past the opposition of some Roadblock Republicans, and I'll probably need your help.
Listen to veterans who know the importance of the Geneva Conventions prohibitions on torture to our soldiers on the battlefield. Listen to what John McCain says about torture. It's a vital dividing line between civilization and barbarism, even in the worst of war. A country can't cross that line without suffering grave harm, from increased danger to its soldiers to a lessening of moral authority in the world. There are some dividing lines of right and wrong that simply should not be crossed, and torture is one bright one. And I'm determined to do all I can to keep our country on the right side of that line.
In an Administration where Attorney Generals have seemed conveniently unsure of what constitutes torture, let's give the next Attorney General a law that leaves no doubts in anyone's minds. Let's bring all of the United States government under the Army Field Manual's directives, and specifically define as torture a series of actions and techniques, such as waterboarding, mock executions, beating or "other forms of physical pain to an individual", and a number of others.
The sad truth is that we need to do this when you have an Administration that has blurred the lines of torture and a Vice President who lobbied for it. It's time to make the Administration hear the voice of the American people saying, "We believe this is wrong, and we won't have this done in our name."
I set up a petition on my website where you say tell Congress that you believe that torture isn't just immoral, it should be illegal. I included a place where you could put your own thoughts on why you believe this so strongly. We should all add our voice and say, "Not in our name!" So, click here to add your name to the list of Americans who are saying just that, "There will be no torture in my name."
But that's not the end; this will be a long legislative fight, and this is not just a petition, this is the beginning of a campaign to make this happen. So I'll be keeping in touch with you, letting you know about more opportunities to make a difference, from calling into the offices of your Senators or Representatives to writing letters to the editors of your local paper and much more.
This is not going to be an easy fight. The Roadblock Republicans are well practiced in their methods of obstruction and fear on these issues, and they'll be pulling out all the stops on this one, I'm sure. (The only time they seem to want to talk about Osama bin Laden is when they're trying to defend actions like this, so I'm sure we'll hear lots of scaremongering throughout this fight. We'll need your help to get this done.)
It's time to help put our country on record: torture is against the bedrock morals of this country, and we won't stand for the use of it in our name.
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Well, Senator Kerry... thanks for posting this, letting us know what you are doing. Of course the only real purpose it has served is to provide this trollfest for the delight of those who salivate at the thought of torturing anyone who disagrees with them, and by that I include Cheney AND all the putrid little examples of the worst in humanity who have graced these pages today.
Some of Senator Kerry's critics here seem obsessed with strategy when what we ought to be talking about is STOPPING THE TORTURE! The Bush administration has been torturing, and laws have been re-written and re-interpreted in an attempt to make this legal. Kerry and Kennedy and others are correct to try and stop this. Impeachment may go a long way towards stopping the torture also, but that doesn't mean a new isn't also a good idea. We should be trying to enforce laws against torture, but changes in the law the last few years, (in response to fears of terrorism) have made the law more ambiguous than it once was. This is shameful and wrong, but there is no point in pretending the Military Commissions Act of Oct 2006 didn't happen, or that Bush's executive branch is deliberately trying to create confusion as to what the law actually currently states. Kerry and Kennedy are correct to try and stop the torturing. Anyone who doesn't see that is still blaiming Kerry for the Democrats defeat in 2004 and is letting bitterness affect their judgement. I was disappointed Kerry lost and I think with a better campaign he could have won. But too many people that voted for him are now letting their disappoint with him cloud their thinking. Torture has been happening. Stopping this is good. Kerry wants to stop this. Kerry is trying to do something good. Whatever you think of him personally or as a candidate, have the good sense to support him when he's right.
AMERICA: THIS MAN COULD HAVE BEEN YOUR PRESIDENT.
Don't we feel foolish now!!!
Dear Senatory Kerry,
Let's see - on my side I have Khalid Sheik Mohammed, who was waterboarded for one minute and forty seconds, longer than anyone else. He had no ill effects. I also have six major terrorists he gave up because of the procedure, all with proven major plans for death and destruction.
I also have a brilliant defense of the procedure by Alan Dershowitz.
So not only do I have no torture, I also have verifiable results of terror prevention.
And on your side you have - what?
Senator Kerry,
Enough already with providing cover to the Bush Adminstration and their illegal acts. Waterboarding is illegal right now - we don't need another law - we need Senators who have the courage to stand up to Bush and say "NO". NO, you may not have an Attorney General who will not commit to prosecuting a President for illegal acts - who will not even acknowledge that this administration has engaged in torture.
I want my country back - you know, the one where you could state with confidence - "My country does not torture".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZQI0Xm29To&NR=1
One little problem John.
It's ALREADY illegal!
Under the US Code and the UCMJ. Why should we have to say so again?
Besides, why give Bush the chance to veto it?
Ciskoe
Albuquerque, NM
Senator Kerry,
I have to agree with many here, you are giving the Republicans exactly what they want. For what-ever reason they want this law right now, probably because they can use the argument that it was ambiguous before and it could shield them from prosecutions.
If they do not want the law, the AG position has been promised based on this silly law that Bush can either veto or attach a signing statement to.
Once again, the Democrats have been out played by the Republicans and by the lowest rated President in history.
Torture has always been illegal in this country. Please do not give the Republicans this law. Stand by existing laws and enforce them.
Dear Senator Kerry...
I am a life long 4rd generation Democrat. I have argued people into the ground when they say that there is no difference between Dems and Repubs. Since the '06 election I am starting to see their point.
How could you be so naive to take Mukasey's offer to uphold any "new law" outlawing torture as sincere. Aren't you a trained attorney? Creating a "new" law outlawing torture, when one already exists will give cover to the Torturer-in-chief and his co-conspirators Cheney and Rumsfeld. Why are the Democrats always such dupes? Are you all really that naive or is this intentional?
Why is impeachment off the table? In these past months a weakened President has thumbed his nose at the Democrats and nothing is getting done. Why not do our Democracy a favor and prosecute War Crimes and other High Crimes and misdemeanors. When the Dems took over in "06 I though impeachment would be too distracting. There was so much to do. Since you aren't doing anything anyway it now seem like a good idea.
Whatever you do don't let the Repubs outsmart us as they did in 2000, And again in 04 in Ohio.
Somewhere the Democratic leadership seems to share the same worldview as the GOP that... of course!!! there will never be any consequences for Bush and Co.. This reinforces the suspicion and fear in the electorate that there are no more Democrats...only liberal
Rebupicans.
I will always be a Democrat and I will wait for the party to come back to core values. Until that time there will be no mindless donations , no knee-jerk party line lock-step and no voting unless I believe the candidate represents real change and courage to change.
I always wondered why people didn't vote ...I am starting to understand.
Senator Kerry,
Stop wasting our time. Torture has always been against our policies, starting with our Revolutionary War.
The Democratic "leadership" is misleading us, with fake positions, to fool us into thinking you are actually doing something. Face it, your policy seems to be coast until the Nov 2008 elections. Shame on you! Meanwhile Americans are dying in Iraq, readying to bomb Teheran, and getting tasered in front of US Senators for being iritating. (how about passing a law confirming free speech?)
I don't want to hear how you have a slim majority and can't do anything. Ever hear of personal holds? Ever hear of not letting bills get to the floor?
Stop whining and act, or get out of the way and retire already.
Brian in Portland
I'd love to hear Sen Kerry's response to Rep Kucinich's impeachment resolution.Let him stand up and be be counted..
Or will we hear Rep Kucinich calling out "Don't tase me bro" while Kerry stands senatorially at the podium.
Kuncinich-"Years from now, people will ask, "Why didn't the United States government respond when they saw this threat to our democracy? WHY DIDN"T PEOPLE INSIDE THE GOV'T RESPOND?", if this doesn't move forward.
And so this really isn't so much, I might add, about the vice president as it is about who we are as a people. What is it that we stand for? What kind of government do the people of the United States expect and deserve?
It's not appropriate for the government to lie to people. It is wrong for government officials -- you know, the vice president, in this case -- to take this nation into war based on lies.
And so, again, this becomes a question of who we are as a people. And so this resolution 333, articles of impeachment against the vice president, will let future generations know that no one is above the law of this country and that Congresses have the specific responsibility to provide a check to administrative abuse of power. That's the way the framers set this government up."
Senator, it's all already out there. There are things you can do. You can put a hold on the Mukasey nomination. Or you can fillibuster it. Or you can run your mouth.
Thank you Senator Kerry.
Please do everything that is in your power to stop the shameful, counter-productive, illegal, and immoral practice of torture.
I am still in shock that our Nation has engaged in this vile practice. Torture is a despicable act that defines despots and is wholly inconsistent with justice and the rule of law.
Torture is terrorism in microcosm.
Anyone that advocates, condones, or practices the strapping of another human being helplessly to a board so that they may then safely do vile things to that persons body has no soul and is not an American.
Americans do not torture, and those that torture are not Americans.
"OK, enough double-talk and obfuscations from the Republicans."
Yeah, it's OUR turn for double-talk and obfuscations.
Sorry, Sen. Kerry, the word "impeach" doesn't appear in your post. Maybe you need to proofread it.
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