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06/08/2004: "The Ethics of Torture"

There's a disturbing
article in the New York Times this morning which details how the Bush Administration determined that it wasn't bound by the Geneva Convention or federal antitorture laws in the interrogation of detainees at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The report was prepared in 2003 for Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, who has been the subject of protests here in Taos, NM, where he maintains a residence.

While Lynn & I prefer to "live the change that we wish to see in the world", rather than burning effigies of Rumsfeld, as some did recently here in Taos, I must say that these men represent everything that I DO NOT wish to stand for.

I was greatly heartened to read former Vice Pres. Al Gore's speech last week (also featured in the NY Times), stating that Bush is 'utterly incompetent' and has 'shamed America' with its policy on Iraq, and asked for the resignations of Donald Rumsfeld, George Tenet, Condoleezza Rice and Defense Department deputies. Mr. Gore also said that Bush used 'forged and blatantly false assertions' that Saddam Hussein was conspiring with Al Qaeda.

What a relief it is to finally hear people speaking out after three and a half years of relative silence!

My bottom line: perhaps the committees investigating these and other matters should also feel free to place themselves above the law and use similar "interrrogation" techniques with Bush and his cronies; after all, there is nothing less at stake than the honor of our once proud country.

blessings,

William