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	is inhumane;
	doesn't reflect our country’s moral values;
	undermines human rights standards worldwide;
	creates legions of enemies of the U.S.;
	brings danger of retaliation on U.S. troops and travelers abroad; and
	does not work - it does not produce reliable intelligence information.

Tell them to send a message loud and clear to the U.S. military that no intelligence information is worth spoiling our country’s long-standing moral position that we in the U.S. do not condone torture, ever. Urge them to support Sen. McCain's amendment.

Please, make it clear that the U.S. does not and will not condone the use of torture.

Background

Sen. McCain's amendment #1557 provides a clear directive to the military that torture is an unacceptable technique to use for intelligence gathering anytime, anywhere, and under any circumstances.

Sen. McCain (AZ), himself subjected to more than five years of torture as a POW during the Vietnam War, introduced the "Uniform Standards for the Interrogation of Persons Under the Detention of the Department of Defense." The amendment provides that: (1) all U.S. military interrogations must be governed by the Army Field Manual on Intelligence Interrogation; (2) no interrogation technique may be included in the manual that would constitute torture or cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment or punishment prohibited by the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the U.S.; and (3) all U.S. military detainees must be registered with the International Committee of the Red Cross.

In addition, Sen. McCain plans to introduce a second amendment to the Defense Department authorization bill. Amendment #1556 (printed but not yet introduced - wording under scrutiny as of this legislative action alert) would prohibit cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of persons under custody or control of the U.S. government. The amendment uses the definitions of the U.S. Constitution, the Geneva Conventions, and the U.N. Convention Against Torture.

--Catherine Gordon