Letter to Representatives about US torture policy

As I said in an earlier statement, the film "Taxi to the Dark Side" upset me in a number of ways regarding the USA's policy regarding the treatment of prisoners and torture. I sent the following letter to my senators and congressman. As always, feel free to us any part of it in contacting your own representatives for answers.




Dear Senator
I recently watched a documentary entitled "Taxi to the Dark Side" a disturbing report on how the US military has treated prisoners since our initial invasion of Afghanistan. Frankly the murders, tortures and abuse allowed at Bagram Air Force Base and Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq is shocking.
What is more shocking is that after these atrocities came to light, the US government has still done little to change the practice.
A group of enlisted personnel were court marshaled for actions taken at the sites listed above, but no officers were similarly disciplined. No officers went to prison. If these enlisted personnel were guilty of dereliction of duty, how is it possible that their officers, and right up the chain of command are not equally guilty?
The documentary also makes mention that as part of the renewal of the Patriot Act in 2006 the executive branch made it clear that they would reveal what they wanted to reveal when they wanted to reveal it and that no one was to question their actions. The act passed. Did you vote in favor of giving the executive branch this power? Where is Congressional oversight?
Prisoners being held in GITMO were told that if they were not terrorist when they were apprehended, they probably would be if they ever were freed.
What is our government doing? Are we Nazis? Are our intelligent agencies the Gestapo of the 21st century?
The information given to then Secretary of State of Colin Powell to justify the invasion of Iraq was obtained by water boarding an alleged high ranking Al Qaeda operative. Needless to say he told the CIA what they wanted to hear. (Interesting note that the torture was done in Egypt, evidentially the CIA out sources this kind of work to keep their hands “clean”.)
Of course after the fact the CIA had to admit that maybe their information was wrong.
America has always stood for liberty, justice and human rights. We have wandered at times, but we have never been accused of being torturers and murderers until recently. We are portraying an image to the world similar to the one Hollywood portrayed to us of the Nazi atrocities during World War II.
Prisoners need to tried and sentenced. They have a right to counsel. They have a right to know what crimes they are accused of performing.
No one should have their body battered that it causes their death. No one should be water boarded.
When we act like the enemy, then the enemy has won because they have brought us down to their level.
What I want to know is what controls are in place now to insure that the US is not accused of abusing human rights?
That our prisoners are treated humanely, according to the Geneva Convention? What oversight is in place to make sure the military and intelligence agencies do not get over enthusiastic in their questioning of alleged terrorists and insurgents?
Senator, as a new administration prepares to take over in two months, it is imperative that our government mandates that American will once again stand for liberty, justice and especially human rights for all.
Thank you.
Michael Wolfe