http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/08/AR2008030800304.html?hpid=topnews
Bush today vetoed a bill that would have explicitly banned the torture technique of waterboarding. I am disgusted and worry about our nation's moral leadership. America grew into a world leader, inspiring the world with our ideals. Human dignity is a chief component of American ideology. We cannot sacrifice an ideal to defend it.
We can redeem our government if we, as a nation, recognize the hypocrisy in the government's actions. We can restore out integrity. Past presidents have done so, including President Theodore Roosevelt. Upon hearing about abuses; the use of waterboarding, actually; Roosevelt investigated, and made sure that those responsible were punished so that others would know that human rights abuses are unacceptable. (see http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1007/6647.html)
A very poignant line in the Washington Post, article, is actually about the security dangers of using such techniques:
"Retired Army Lt. Gen. Harry E. Soyster, a former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, suggested that those who support harsh methods simply lack experience and do not know what they are talking about. 'If they think these methods work, they're woefully misinformed,"'Soyster said at a news briefing called in anticipation of the veto. 'Torture is counterproductive on all fronts. It produces bad intelligence. It ruins the subject, makes them useless for further interrogation. And it damages our credibility around the world.'"
I worry for our country. Let me end with a Lincoln quote that is supported by Lt. Gen. Soyster's argument:
"Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it."
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