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Tell Bush: Don’t Veto Torture Ban

On February 13, following the lead of the U.S. House, the Senate gave final approval to an intelligence authorization bill that included a provision forcing the CIA to follow the interrogation and detention standards set out in the Army field manual. The Army field manual is more restrictive than the law under which the CIA currently operates -- the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 -- which more generally prohibits “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.”

By vetoing this bill, Bush will be saying to the CIA that it is OK to beat, electrocute, and burn prisoners. It will be OK to hood prisoners and put duct tape across their eyes. And it will be OK to perform mock executions and subject detainees to hypothermia.

This is the message George W. Bush is about to send to the world. Once he does, it will underscore the growing misperception that we as a nation approve these techniques. Moreover, it will send the signal that we believe it is acceptable for these same techniques to be used against U.S. soldiers and citizens held by foreign intelligence agencies.

We must stop him. Please fill in the information below and click on "Send my message" to send a message to President Bush, urging him to sign the intelligence authorization bill.

February 10, 2010

Subject:

Dear President Bush,

I understand from my friends at the American Freedom Campaign that you are planning to veto the intelligence authorization bill because it contains a provision forcing the CIA to adhere to the Army field manual with respect to interrogation techniques and the treatment of detainees.  I urge you to reconsider this action.

While the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005 generally prohibits “cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment” of detainees, we as a nation must be as specific as possible in clarifying the behaviors that are banned by agents of our country.  Especially given the past actions of your administration, we must make it clear that the CIA is prohibited from waterboarding detainees, hooding prisoners, and forcing anyone in their custody to strip naked and mimic sexual acts.

If you do not send a strong message to the rest of the world by prohibiting these and other techniques across all U.S. agencies and branches of the military, you will cause other nations to believe that it is within reason for them to use these same techniques on our soldiers and citizens.  Is this the example you want to set for the world?

For more than 200 years -- while by no means being a perfect nation -- America helped set the moral standard for the world with respect to the treatment of prisoners of war and military detainees.  Unfortunately, your administration has taken many steps backward and has diminished our reputation internationally.

It is not too late to get back on the right track.  Please start this process by signing the intelligence authorization bill and directing the CIA to follow the Army field manual when conducting interrogations and detaining prisoners.

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