Former members of military, State Department, CIA & FBI urge Senate to reject torture

Mankato resident Tom Maertens, former National Security Council director for proliferation and homeland defense in the George W. Bush White House, and 16 other former members of the U.S. military, State Department, Defense Department, CIA and FBI have signed a letter to Senators Arlen Specter and Patrick Leahy of the Senate Judiciary Committee asking that "Congress send a clear message that torture is notan effective or useful tactic."

They write:

We are very concerned that the proposals now before the Congress, concerning how to handle detainees suspected of terrorist activities, run the risk of squandering the greatest resource our country enjoys in fighting the dictators and extremists who want to destroy us—our commitment as a nation to the rule of law and the protection of divinely granted human rights . . . .

We ask that the Senate lead the way in upholding the principles set forth in the Declaration of Independence and affirmed in the Geneva Conventions regarding the rights of individuals and the obligations of governing authorities towards those in their power.

Along with Maertens, who also served as Deputy Coordinator for Counterterrorism in the State Department, signers include:

Paul Pillar, former member of the Directorate of Intelligence for the CIA, concluding his career as National Intelligence Officer for the Near East and South Asia.

Vincent Cannistraro, former Director of NSC Intelligence and Chief of Operations for the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center.

Ray McGovern, who as a 27-year CIA officer prepared daily security briefs for the President, Vice President, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and National Security Advisor.

W. Patrick Lang, retired U.S. Army Colonel and former Director of Human Intelligence (Defense Humint Services).

Karen Kwiatkowski, former Middle East specialist for the National Security Agency and retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel.

In their letter the group concludes:

Until recently the policy of our country was that all people, not just citizens of the United States, were entitled to these protections. It is important that the world understand that we remain committed to these principles. In fighting our enemies we must wage this battle in harmony with the traditional values of our society that were enshrined in the opening clause of the Declaration of Independence, "we hold these truths to be self-evident". . . .

The entirety of the letter can be viewed here.