Blue Dogs Push For Adoption of McCain Anti-Torture Measure

31 Blue Dog Democrats today sent a letter to Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Bill Young and Ranking Member John Murtha urging them to include the McCain anti-torture amendment in the FY2006 Defense Department Appropriations conference report. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), a Vietnam combat veteran, authored the letter.

The text of the letter is below:

November 16, 2005

The Honorable Bill Young, Chairman, Subcommittee on Defense, Committee on Appropriations, H149 Capital, Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable John P. Murtha, Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Defense, Committee on Appropriations, 1016 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Young and Ranking Member Murtha:

As Members of the Blue Dog Coalition, we support a Senate-passed amendment that would establish clear guidelines for interrogating prisoners captured by our military. This amendment, proposed by Senator John McCain of Arizona, with 11 cosponsors, was approved as part of the FY2006 Defense Department Appropriations bill on a vote of 90-9 and is identical to language included in HR 3985, which a number of Blue Dogs have cosponsored.

As Blue Dogs, we believe we must not lose sight of the importance of combating terrorism. The threat of a terrorist attack still hangs over our nation. However, in our effort to defend the liberties that we cherish, we should not erode the very freedoms we seek to protect. Above all else, America must lead the world by example. We owe it to the world to hold ourselves to a higher standard and to demonstrate our commitment to democracy and human rights both at home and abroad. These are the values that distinguish us from our enemies and we must hold firm to these fundamental beliefs if we are to win the war on terror.

Recent reports of abuses committed against detainees in U.S. custody, such as the incidents at Abu Ghraib prison, suggest appalling acts that dishonor our military and our nation. It is important that in our effort to prevail in the war on terrorism we do not sacrifice the integrity and accountability of government and military officials. Therefore, we urge the inclusion of the McCain anti-torture amendment in the FY2006 Defense Department Appropriations conference report. Establishing the Army Field Manual as the uniform standard for the interrogation of detainees will reduce the significant level of confusion that still exists with respect to which interrogation techniques are allowed.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mike Thompson, Jane Harman, Dennis Cardoza, Mike Ross, Lincoln Davis, David Scott, Jim Cooper, Loretta Sanchez, Allen Boyd, Jim Costa, Michael H. Michaud, Tim Holden, John Salazar, Dan Boren, Melissa L. Bean, Joe Baca, Jim Matheson, Ellen O.Tauscher, Dennis Moore, Charlie Melancon, Steve Israel, Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Robert E. “Bud” Cramer, Marion Berry, Harold E. Ford, Jr., Collin C. Peterson, Earl Pomerory, Stephanie Herseth, Mike McIntyre, John Barrow, Adam Schiff,