Dear Dad, what they have done

[Omaha Steve]

If my dad were alive today, this is what I would say to him: I know you fought for the good guys in W.W.II. I know you left friends behind in places I've never heard of. I know men and women serving the USA and our allies, then and now, were tortured. I know your fight was to end tyranny, injustice, torture, and so much more. I think you would be ashamed we are no longer the leaders of the free world. The President says we don't use torture. (See footnote 1) The Vice President says the CIA needs an exemption to use it. (See footnote 2) It seems the Presidents right-hand man doesn't know what his boss is saying. Those of us who do know realize, that if the US wasn't using it, the Vice President wouldn't need to ask for an exemption for the CIA! I can only hope that we citizens make it clear to this administration, which seems to be void of both compassion and ethics, that we need to remember who we are and who we hope to be. The administration wonders why we have enemies that would wish us harm. Their use of torture is one of the reasons why. You can't hold your democracy up as a shining banner to conceal the use of torture in prisons and detention camps around the world. In our next conversation, I'm hoping I can tell you that your fight wasn't in vain.

1 Published: Nov. 7, 2005

PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP)- U.S. President Bush on Monday vigorously defended attempts to interrogate suspected terrorists after the public disclosure of secret CIA prisoner camps in eastern European countries. "We do not torture," he declared.
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBO0AYVQFE.html

2 By Dana Priest and Robin Wright
Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, November 7, 2005; Page A01

Just last week, Cheney showed up at a Republican senatorial luncheon to lobby lawmakers for a CIA exemption to an amendment by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) that would ban torture and inhumane treatment of prisoners. The exemption would cover the CIA's covert "black sites" in several Eastern European democracies and other countries where key al Qaeda captives are being kept.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/06/AR2005110601281.html

[LaurenG]

1. Good post n/t

[Daphne08]

2. Your post has made me weep. My father also fought in WWII

for this country and for the principles that this country represents.

He would be horrified if he were alive today.

[JuniperLea]

3. Embarrassing, isn't it?

I feel like we've let them all down.

I feel like our leaders are setting the tone for how our soldiers will be treated should they find themselves held captive.

I feel like any country who feels we are dangerous (and we are) has the right to overthrow us regardless of provocation or lack thereof. We did it.

Disgusting, isn't it?