I taught prisoner of war interrogation for 18 years to U.S. Army soldiers. Neither I nor the Army taught torture: it's morally wrong, it endangers our own troops who may be taken prisoner, it undermines our values, and it does not produce reliable information.
I've listened to some of our current leaders say that we should use torture - what they call "enhanced" interrogation techniques - to combat terrorism. Abandoning our principles is never the answer. An expert interrogator needs to be clever, not inhumane.
Strong presidential leadership is needed to restore our nation's stature in the eyes of the civilized world. This week, one year from the presidential election, I am adding my name to Human Rights First's petition, urging all of the presidential candidates to restore our nation's honor. You can do the same.
This isn't about being tough on terrorists. It's about what's in the strategic interest of the United States. Torture doesn't produce reliable information but it does harden hearts and minds against us, and torture by any agency of our government puts our own troops at greater risk. It's time to stop playing semantic games about what torture is.
If you're like me, you want a President who is truly devoted to this country, its longstanding laws, and its fundamental values. A President who will:
- Stop shipping prisoners to countries known to torture
- Close Guantanamo
- Restore the right of habeas corpus
- Ensure that torture is never again a part of U.S. policy
In one year, we could be celebrating the election of a leader who understands what's at stake. But only if we demand it today! Thank you for joining me and Human Rights First as we end torture and abuse in America's name.
Yours sincerely,
Brigadier General David R. Irvine, USA (Ret.)
Human Rights First is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3), international human rights organization based in New York and Washington D.C. We do not favor or oppose any candidate for public office.
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