E-MAIL from MoveOn.org Political Action

From: Nita Chaudhary, MoveOn.org Political Action
Date: Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Subject: Bush's torture


Dear MoveOn member,

On Thursday, President Obama released memos that describe, in horrific detail, the torture techniques authorized by the Bush administration. The memos make clear that top Bush officials didn't just condone torture—they encouraged it.

So far there's been no accountability for the architects of Bush's torture program—the top officials who justified keeping detainees awake for 11 days straight, waterboarding them repeatedly, and forcing prisoners into coffin-like boxes with insects.1

We need real consequences for those responsible—it's the only way to keep this from happening again.  Attorney General Holder can open an investigation into the torture program—but he most likely won't unless people everywhere speak up and demand it.

Can you sign our petition to Attorney General Eric Holder asking him to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the torture program?  If we can reach 200,000 signatures, we'll deliver the petition to Holder by the end of the week.  Clicking here will sign your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/torture/

The petition says: "No one is above the law.  It's time to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate and prosecute the architects of the Bush-era torture program."

Calls for action, from the United Nations, the ACLU, Amnesty International,2 Senators Leahy and Feingold, and others, are gathering steam. The New York Times made the case for accountability in an editorial:3

"...[Obama] has an obligation to pursue what is clear evidence of a government policy sanctioning the torture and abuse of prisoners—in violation of international law and the Constitution.
"

This isn't about retribution or politics. It's about accountability. If hundreds of thousands of us speak up, we can make sure Holder hears this loud and clear.

http://pol.moveon.org/torture/

Thanks for all you do.

–Nita, Kat, Peter, Ilyse, and the rest of the team

P.S. You can see all the Bush administration memos here.

Sources:

1. "Interrogation Memos Detail Harsh Tactics by the C.I.A.," The New York Times, April 17, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51338&id=&t=5

2. "Opposition Grows To Obama's Decision Not To Prosecute CIA Agents," The Huffington Post, April 19, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51336&id=&t=6

3. "A Torturers' Manifesto," The New York Times, April 19, 2009.
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51334&id=&t=7

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