September 5, 2005
Senators Warner and Allen and Representative Moran
Senators Warner and Allen and Representative Moran
PO Box 8208
Alexandria, VA 22306-8208
September 5, 2005
The Honorable John William Warner
United States Senate
225 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4601
The Honorable George F. Allen
United States Senate
204 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4604
The Honorable James P. Moran
U.S House of Representatives
2239 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4608
Dear Senators Warner and Allen and Representative Moran:
As a former Marine and Gulf War veteran, I’m thoroughly disgusted.
To date, none of the investigations into instances of abuse in U.S. detention and interrogation practices are sufficiently comprehensive or independent to effectively identify and recommend how to address any underlying causes of such widespread abuse.
I therefore urge you to support an independent investigation. It is not only essential to restoring America’s commitment to protecting basic human rights, but also is an increasingly urgent requirement to ensure the safety of our troops and promote the security interests of our nation.
Unless America deals with this abuse scandal directly, those who would do America harm will continue to have, in the Abu Ghraib photos and regular stories of abuse at other detention centers, a potent rally cry and recruitment tool. Moreover, unless we get to the bottom of this scandal and show the U.S. democratic system at work, autocratic governments will continue to justify their own practices of indefinite detention and abuse by pointing to the American example.
With the number of individuals in U.S. custody worldwide having increased to nearly 12,000, it is more urgent than ever for the government to make some critical policy changes and ensure an end to abuse in our detention facilities.
Please heed the growing call – from both sides of the political spectrum – for a bipartisan commission, and show the world you are serious about reining in these flagrant human rights abuses. Support, immediately and publicly, the creation of a bipartisan investigation into the interrogation polices that have sanctioned torture of prisoners in U.S. custody overseas.
Sincerely,
James Landrith