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Michael Ratner’s letter published in the New York Times Oct. 10, 2007 -
Torture and the Shame of a Nation. Responding to this New York Times
Editorial: On Torture and American Values.
To the Editor:
“On Torture and American Values” lets Congress off the hook too easily
regarding the torture and secret detention program. As with the Iraq
war, many Republicans and Democrats were and still are willing to be
misled (or claim to have been so) rather than appear to be perceived as
weak on terrorism.
Sadly, Congress by its actions and inactions is the handmaiden of the
torture program. Despite the publicly revealed memos authorizing
torture and the testimony of its widespread use, Congress, even under
the Democrats, has yet to hold even one hearing regarding the
responsibility of high administration officials. Perhaps had it done
so, the administration would not have felt emboldened to continue the
program.
Instead, Congress affirmatively aided the torture program. Examples
abound: removing habeas corpus from detainees and failing in its
restoration (habeas is key to protecting against torture — lawyers and
courts have access to detainees); granting amnesty to officials who may
have violated the torture and war crimes provisions of our law;
allowing a defense for future abusers if they relied upon legal advice;
authorizing the president to redefine cruel, inhuman and degrading
treatment; and permitting the use of evidence derived from torture and
coercion.
Now with the nomination of a new attorney general, Congress again has
an opportunity to make its voice heard: no attorney general who does
not clearly and unequivocally repudiate the new torture memos and the
secret sites at which torture is carried out should even be considered
for the job.
Michael Ratner, President of the Center for Constitutional Rights
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