Amnesty International: No compromise on torture

[Solly Mack]

Action Alert


"Yesterday, President Bush and several members of the Senate struck a deal on human rights. In the process, they dealt away America's commitment to fundamental human rights principles.

Make no mistake about it, this deal is a betrayal of the America we believe in. No human rights activist can remain on the sidelines in the days ahead. Call on your Senator to oppose these dangerous provisions. We are literally days away from action in Congress on a proposal to:

* Abandon the rule of law and give the President the freedom to interpret the Geneva Conventions any way he sees fit.

* Provide immunity to those responsible for past human rights abuses.

* Exempt from prosecution those who authorize treatment traditionally considered torture.

* Strip detainees of access to US courts.

The soul of our nation is in jeopardy. Everything we believe in is on the line. That's why we're mobilizing the entire Amnesty community. We're going into action today and we won't stop until every last Senator has made it clear whether he or she is willing to stand up for the America we believe in.

Please act today. Those behind this dangerous deal are doing everything they can to quickly build momentum. We have to break that momentum and we have to do it now.

We implore you to call Congress immediately.

If America renounces the Geneva Conventions like President Bush wants to do, nations all over the world will follow. American soldiers will be placed in greater threat of torture and cruel treatment when captured, not just by one or two rogue nations, but by many nations that follow America's lead.

Call 1 800 AMNESTY and our operators will connect you to your official or call the Congressional switch board directly at 202-224-3121. Let the person on the phone know that you are a constituent, and tell them that the deal President Bush has struck is a betrayal of the America you believe in. Ask your Senators and Representative to stand firm in defense of human rights."

Larry Cox
Executive Director
Amnesty International USA

[leftchick]

1. apparently congressional Dems have not seen this.

:(

[Solly Mack]

2. Now you have me wondering if AI sends these alerts out to Congress

in addition to calling them, it would be another way to get messages out

[leftchick]

3. I do know AI has alerts for congress people

on their website. So they probably do not do it themselves. Too bad if they don't. :(

[Solly Mack]

7. I'll include the message in my next round of emails to Congress

It doesn't hurt and it might just help

I have to try anyway

[IChing]

4. good idea

As I pointed out yesterday, if you go to Amnesty International site there are 70 alerts per page of 50 pages that Amnesty International has filed on the US.

Nominated and kicked

[Solly Mack]

9. I know my mailbox is always full..in no small part from AI

I appreciate everything they do

[katinmn]

5. related message fromThe Center for Victims of Torture

CVT is a treatment center for torture victims launched by former Governor Rudy Perpich.


Dear katinmn,

Yesterday afternoon, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and President Bush announced a compromise over the competing proposals to establish military commissions and amend the War Crimes Act.

The Administration originally requested that Congress reinterpret Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions (which establishes minimum standards for fair and humane treatment for anyone during an armed conflict) to allow the CIA interrogation program to continue. While the language of the compromise does not reinterpret Common Article 3, it allows the President to interpret the Geneva Conventions. The bill expressly outlaws torture, cruel or inhuman treatment, biological experiments, murder, mutilation, serious bodily injury, rape, sexual assault and the taking of hostages, and leaves acts not rising to these levels to the discretion of the president.

CVT believes this means abusive interrogation practices like waterboarding, stress positions, sleep deprivation and use of extreme temperatures are clearly prohibited. However, because the language is vague, there is some concern that prohibited acts are open to interpretation. For example, if the president determines that waterboarding, which induces a feeling of drowning, does not constitute torture, cruel or inhuman behavior, he could designate it as an acceptable interrogation method. In a foreshadowing of events to come, National Security Advisory Stephen Hadley yesterday refused to say that waterboarding would be outlawed by this legislation.

Other problems with the compromise include a provision providing immunity to U.S. government officials, including CIA interrogators, for past acts of abuse going back to 1997. And the agreement still allows for the use of coerced evidence to be introduced during trials of terror suspects.

The compromise announced yesterday does not bring the clarity needed to prevent the kinds of abuses that have been so widespread in Afghanistan, Iraq, Guantanamo and secret CIA-run prisons. When the U.S. lowers its standards on the treatment of detainees, it not only increases risks faced to our men and women in uniform, but it allows other countries to lessen their commitment to human rights. More importantly, we are sacrificing the values that are at the heart of American society – human rights, dignity and fairness.

The compromise bill is expected to be introduced in the Senate today. We will notify you as events progress and opportunities for your action arise.

Sincerely,

Ruth Barrett-Rendler
Acting Executive Director

CVT: Restoring the Dignity of the Human

[Solly Mack]

6. Thanks, kat!!!!

[Truthiness Inspector]

8. Thanks for posting this info. n/t

[annm4peace]

10. Office of Sen. Mark Dayton, Minnesota

said that Sen Dayton would vote against any bill that allows torture.
Sen Coleman, GOP, didn't know how Coleman would vote.

What did your Senator's office have to say ?