Torture Justified and Rationalized - The Senate will vote to Confirm Gonzales

Military Veterans Oppose Gonzales Nomination for U.S. Attorney General:

Thousands Express Grave Concern to Congress about Nominee’s Interpretation of Geneva Conventions and the U.S. Constitution

Nearly 3,600 military veterans and military family members have expressed grave concerns about Alberto R. Gonzales, President Bush’s nominee for U.S. Attorney General in a letter to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and other members of the U.S. Senate. The veterans’ primary concerns are Judge Gonzales' positions on U.S. adherence to the Geneva Conventions and protections from torture for military personnel under international and U.S. laws.

The letter to Congress cites Gonzales' controversial January 2002 memorandum advising President George W. Bush that he could exempt al Qaeda and Taliban prisoners from Geneva Convention protections, and an August 2003 Justice Department memo approved by Gonzales, which attempted to redefine torture. According to The Washington Post, the Justice Department last week reversed its position on the legality of torture of prisoners of war. “Acting Assistant Attorney General Daniel Levin said in the new memo that torture may consist of acts that fall short of provoking excruciating and agonizing pain and thus may include mere physical suffering or lasting mental anguish.” (Washington Post, 12/31/04)

What can you do?

See Veterans for Common Sense for some ideas. And read Mama's
account of Scott McClellan's White House briefing if you'd rather exist in a parallel universe.