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Human Rights First builds respect for human rights and the rule of law to help ensure the dignity to which everyone is entitled and to stem intolerance, tyranny, and violence. More »
Human Rights First builds respect for human rights and the rule of law to help ensure the dignity to which everyone is entitled and to stem intolerance, tyranny, and violence. More »
Range of Voices Urge Review of U.S. Interrogation Policies
Since the summer of 2004, Human Rights First — joined by eight retired admirals and generals — has called for an bipartisan independent commission to investigate what has happened at Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and the two dozen or so other facilities where the United States is holding and interrogating security detainees.A range of voices — from President Jimmy Carter to Fox News’ Bill
O’Reilly — have now begun to echo this call for an examination of
U.S. policy:
"I'm
giving serious thought to [a commission]. ... It's a strong measure," the
Pennsylvania Republican said. "But the 9/11 commission found out a lot of
things that the congressional committees couldn't find out." —Sen. Arlen Spector (R-PA)
as reported by the Philadelphia Inquirer, July 26, 2005, available at
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/12221561.htm (Reg. Req'd)
"In
an interview last week ... [Senator] Graham said he had until now resisted the
idea of Congressional action to review issues related to prisoner abuse. But
Mr. Graham said the uproar related to the latest accusations of abuse at Guantánamo
had convinced him that 'we've crossed that point where that isn't working
anymore.' Mr. Graham said the United States needed 'to prove to the
world that we are a rule-of-law nation."—Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC),
as reported by the New York Times, June 22, 2005
"[Guantanamo] either needs to be closed down or cleaned up… It's time that there are no more stories coming out of there about people being abused … If we get a reputation for abusing people it puts our own soldiers much more at risk and second, if you rough up somebody bad enough, they'll eventually tell you whatever you want to hear to get you to stop doing it….I still don't think you can just hold these people forever…I think sooner or later you’ve got to move or let them go…it is just inimical to a free society.”—Former President Bill Clinton,
Financial Times, June 20, 2005
"Despite President George W. Bush's bold reminder that America
is determined to promote freedom and democracy around the world, the U.S. continues
to suffer terrible embarrassment and a blow to our reputation as a champion of
human rights because of reports concerning abuses of prisoners in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and Guantanamo." Carter also recommended that the United States terminate the policy of "extraordinary rendition" (the transfer of detainees to foreign countries where torture has been reported) and establish an independent, blue ribbon commission with authority to investigate places where terrorism suspects are held in U.S. custody and make a full report to the world, as called for by bipartisan congressional leaders.
—Former President Jimmy Carter,
speaking in an Atlanta at a conference titled "Human Rights Defenders on the Frontlines of Freedom: Advancing Security and the Rule of Law" hosted by The Carter Center and Human Rights First, June 7, 2005
''It's
[Guantanamo] become an icon for bad news, for bad stories,'' Martinez said. ''And
at some point you wonder the cost-benefit ratio: How much do you get out of having
that facility there? Is it serving all the purposes you thought it would serve
when initially you began it? Or can this be done some other way a little better?''
"[Martinez] said he supported a suggestion from Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., raised early this week, that the United States debate its enemy-combatant policy and ultimately close the prison in Cuba. Both Biden and Martinez are members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee."
"Martinez also said: 'It's not very American, by the way, to be holding people indefinitely. Now they're like POWs, and the conflict is still ongoing, and typically you wouldn't release POWs until the end of the conflict.'''
—Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL),as reported by the Miami Herald, June 11, 2005
"On
CNN, Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., also urged congressional intervention, saying
the Bush administration has been vague about its plans for the camp [at Guantanamo]
and has provided incorrect information about what goes on there. Hagel, however,
said he didn't know whether Guantanamo should be closed. 'This can't be
indefinite. This can't be a situation where we hold them forever and ever and
ever until they die of old age. What are our plans here?' Hagel said. ...
'It may well be to close Guantanamo Bay, if we have an alternative, would be
the best thing for all of us.'"—Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE),
as reported by Kansas City Star, June 12, 2005, available at http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/11879761.htm (Reg. Req'd.)
"…back
in January I introduced a bill saying we should have an independent commission
go take a look at this, not only Guantanamo but Abu Ghraib, the rest of the prison
system, make a recommendation to the United States Congress and let's deal with
this openly, because this has become the greatest propaganda tool that exists
for recruiting of terrorists around the world. And it is unnecessary to be that,
in that position. We should have an independent US commission take a look at
it, make recommendations to the Congress. That bill I introduced is going to
get a hearing in the judiciary committee in the next couple of weeks. I think
we should get on with this, clean it up and move on."
—Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE)
on ABC News, This Week With George Stephanopoulos, June 5, 2005
"We will, our government, address the charges against these people, bring
them to the court of justice, follow the facts wherever they may go, no matter
how embarrassing they may be, and hold those accountable up the chain, down the
chain and in every other way," Warner said.—Sen. John Warner (R-VA),
Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia) May 16, 2004 (commenting on Abu Ghraib)
”I can say that the facts that I now have from a number of sources represent to me as serious an issue of military misconduct as I have ever observed. These reports could also seriously affect this country's relationships with other nations, the conduct of the war against terrorism, and place in jeopardy the men and women of the armed forces wherever they are serving in the world. This mistreatment of prisoners represents an appalling and totally unacceptable breach of military regulations and conduct. Most significant, the replaying of these images day after day throughout the Middle East, and indeed the world, has the potential to undermine the substantial gains, emphasize, the substantial gains towards the goal of peace and freedom in various operation areas of the world, most particularly, Iraq. And the substantial sacrifice by our forces, those of our allies, in the war on terror. … Members of the committee, our central task here today is to get all the facts in this difficult situation no matter where they lead, no matter how embarrassing they may be, so that we can assess our response and in the end make sure that such dereliction of duty as is in this case never, never happens again in the proud history of our country."
—Sen. John Warner (R-VA),
before Rumsfeld’s Testimony to the Armed Services Committee, May 7, 2004 (commenting on Abu Ghraib)
"'We
need to look at this issue thoroughly, both in open and closed session,' said
Rep. Curt Weldon, R-Penn., chairman of the Tactical Air and Land Forces subcommittee
of the House Armed Services Committee, speaking in an interview on NBC's 'Meet
the Press.' The goal, Weldon said, would be to 'come to a final determination
as to whether or not this facility [at Guanatanamo] has, in fact, lost its viability.'"—Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA),
as reported by The Kansas City Star, June 12, 2005, available at http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/nation/11879761.htm (Reg. Req'd.)
"...
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi refused to denounce Mr. Durbin's initial comments
[regarding the Guantanamo detention facility]. At a press conference she called
to demand creation of a commission to investigate detainee abuses at U.S. facilities
throughout the world, she said Mr. Durbin's comments are one reason to have a
commission." "'The
fact is that Mr. Durbin's comments point to the need for an independent commission," she
said. "What are the facts, how do we make judgments
about how to change what is going on there, close Guantanamo or clean it up,
but the status quo ... is not acceptable.'"" —Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA),
as reported by the Washington Times, June 22, 2005
"[A]n inquiry by an independent, bipartisan commission with subpoena power would be the most practical way to set the record straight. It would send a message to the world of what Army spokespersons maintain: “the Army has aggressively investigated all credible allegations of detainees abuse and held soldiers accountable for their actions.” And if, as some have charged, the Army has not pursued these investigations appropriately, that inquiry will permit us to thoroughly and fairly bring to justice those who are responsible, and clear the good names of our military personnel who are not." —Robert J. Grey, Jr., President, American Bar Association,
Letter to President Bush, February 1, 2005
"I
am talking about the war-on-terrorism P.O.W. camp at Guantanamo Bay. Just shut
it down and then plow it under. It has become worse than an embarrassment. I
am convinced that more Americans are dying and will die if we keep the Gitmo
prison open than if we shut it down. So, please, Mr. President, just shut it
down. ... Guantanamo Bay is becoming the anti-Statue of Liberty. If we have a
case to be made against any of the 500 or so inmates still in Guantanamo, then
it is high time we put them on trial, convict as many possible (which will not
be easy because of bungled interrogations) and then simply let the rest go home
or to a third country." —Tom Friedman,
"Shut It Down, Just Shut It Down," N.Y. Times, May 25, 2005
"Also
once again, the Bush administration should set up an independent commission to
investigate American detainee policy across the board. The president must take
the offensive on this, or else the country's image will continue to suffer and
the jihadists and their enablers will win another victory."—Bill O’Reilly,
Talking Points, June 7, 2005, available at http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,158795,00.html
"Given the range of individuals and locations involved in these reports, it is
simply no longer possible to view these allegations as a few instances of an
isolated problem. Yet none of the purported major or comprehensive investigations
have assigned responsibility to any individuals responsible for policymaking
nor held any commanding officer accountable for these abuses, other than the
demotion, by one grade, of a Brigadier General." ... "We urge you to commit – immediately and publicly – to support the creation of an independent commission to investigate and report on the detention and interrogation practices of U.S. military and intelligence agencies deployed in the global war on terror."
—Veterans for Common Sense
Open Letter, available at
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/index.cfm?
Page=Campaign&MemberID=0&subPage=MoreInfo&CampaignID=23
—Floyd Abrams, Bob Barr and Thomas Pickering,
“Justice Before Politics” Washington Post, June 7, 2005, available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/06/AR2005060601512.html (Reg. Req'd)
"The proper way to hold enemy fighters in a shadowy and
unconventional global war is a new and difficult issue. That is one good reason
to create a bipartisan commission, as was recently proposed by Mr. Biden, to
investigate what has happened since 2001 and to make recommendations. The country
needs to forge a consensus about how it can effectively hold and question enemy
combatants without bringing shame to its democratic system."
—Washington Post,
Editorial, June 12, 2005, available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/11/AR2005061100566.html (Reg. Req'd.)
—Washington Post,
Editorial, June 12, 2005, available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/11/AR2005061100566.html (Reg. Req'd.)