Torture Matters

Here's a quick rant that I sent off to my congressional representatives, Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, and Nancy Pelosi:

Dear ...,

I am horrified at President Obama’s recent announcements suggesting that he will refuse to prosecute or even investigate incidences of torture by the CIA. I voted for change. But it’s beginning to look like more continuity of unchecked power than a return to the rule of law that Americans had hoped for and had a right to expect when President Obama took his oath of office

If we accept the spurious argument that agents who engaged in torture should escape prosecution because they were following orders, then the need to prosecute those who gave those orders become even more imperative.

The argument that we have to sweep some things under the rug because there is so much for our nation to deal with right now rings hollow. That is precisely why the president has a Cabinet including a Department of Justice. It only takes a few moments to direct him to launch a full scale investigation.

Attorney General Holder has an obligation to investigate and prosecute crimes. The president has an obligation to direct him to do so. The president’s refusal to make policy changes from the previous administration threatens our already weakened world reputation. When Obama says that we don’t torture, but refuses to outline reasonable definitions, refuses to investigate, refuses to prosecute, refuses to cancel extraordinary rendition then it’s as though he were swearing to make changes with his fingers crossed.

If Obama refuses to uphold the law and to prosecute those who wrote legal memo’s with intent to evade the law, those who set immoral and illegal policy, and those who gave the criminal orders for agents of The United States to commit torture thereby making our nation a lesser nation than it’s promise, then Barak Obama fails on his promise and becomes an accessory after the fact and part of the criminal conspiracy of the previous administration.

There are no two ways about this. If the president is afraid to do his job because of a political skirmish, then it incumbent upon congress to compel him to do so.

I urge you to conduct quick and thorough hearings into the medieval practices of the Bush administration. The American people’s reputation for justice is severely imperiled. We must take immediate and decisive steps.

Thank you
Daniel Wexler