U.S. Marine Brig. Gen: Release the Intelligence Report NOW

[grasswire]

By Leif H. Hendrickson

The U.S. cannot abide torture nor pardon those who commit it.

We now find ourselves (again) with an opportunity to do the right thing. Specifically, to uphold the principles and values of our Constitution and for our chief executive to hold true to his oath of office.

The Senate Intelligence Committee's report on U.S. torture addresses the executive branch's program(s) of interrogation and the behavior of those responsible for their execution. The executive branch, playing on America's fears of terrorism, continually assured the nation that programs were providing actionable results while asking for America's "trust" in their undisclosed methods in the name of national security. But it turns out that they were kibitzing with words and interpretations to allow (or justify) what are now known and confirmed as unethical, immoral practices — torture.

Asking for our trust is an organization of the executive branch that has been found to have destroyed information on their practices of torture, illegally removed equipment from the legislative branch and conducted illegal surveillance of the legislative branch. And now, again in the interest of national security, the executive branch is redacting the Senate's report and asking citizens to once again "trust them." The subject report will either exonerate those organizations and individuals responsible for torture or provide an instrument leading to their accountability. Additionally, it will provide truth to citizens about the value of information received from torture. It should be released in its entirety.

There is nothing that could be more damaging to the fabric of our nation and its principles than pardoning those responsible for the abhorrent acts of torture, regardless of political stature or position. As our chief executive has stated, "nobody is above the law." There is no justification for torture, or the authorization to commit the act. Terrorism is, indeed, cowardly and against every principle that our nation stands for. And, those committing terrorism should rightly be brought to justice and held accountable — but within the framework of our standing values and principles of jurisprudence.

Leif H. Hendrickson is a retired brigadier general in the United States Marine Corps. His letter appeared in the Baltimore Sun on 11/2/2014

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. And, hopefully start the trials for whoever participated or gave the orders.

[gratuitous]

2. Damn hippie!

We're the mighty United States of America, the most exceptionally exceptional nation ever, blessed personally by God Almighty to bring freedom and liberty to the globe, and if those fucking heathens can't see their way clear to getting with the program, we are endowed by that self-same Almighty God with certain inalienable rights, among them the right to torture, rain down sudden death from the skies, and blow to smithereens people anywhere on the planet who can't fight back, get away, or defend themselves.

By the way, if you think the foregoing paragraph is just kidding around, I invite you to poke around the internet for this precise sentiment expressed by your fellow citizens. Hell, poke around at DU for it if you don't want to go to Free Republic.