[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Message From Senator Durbin

[Alfred Kagan]

An interesting letter.

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Correspondence_Reply at durbin.senate.gov
> Date: February 25, 2005 3:38:07 PM CST
> To: <akagan at uiuc.edu>
> Subject: Message From Senator Durbin
>
>
>
>
>
> February 25, 2005
>
>
> Mr. Alfred Kagan
> 310 W. Hill St. #1e
> #1e
> Champaign, IL 61820
>
> Dear Mr. Kagan:
>
> 	Thank you for letting me know of your opposition to the nomination of
> Condoleezza Rice as the U.S. Secretary of State.
>
> 	I voted with 12 of my Senate colleagues against Dr. Rice's nomination 
> to
> replace Colin Powell as head of the State Department.  I was 
> particularly
> troubled by Dr. Rice's role in advancing the Bush Administration's 
> faulty
> rationale for invading Iraq, and by her refusal to accept 
> responsibility
> for helping mislead our nation into war.
>
> 	I also was deeply concerned by Dr. Rice's opposition to my amendment 
> to
> the 2004 Intelligence Reform Act prohibiting U.S. intelligence agencies
> from using torture.  Acting on behalf of the White House, Dr. Rice 
> sent a
> message to the House-Senate conference committee objecting to this
> amendment, which unequivocally condemned the use of torture, and the
> provision was removed from the final version of the bill.  Dr. Rice's
> objection to this effort to reaffirm our nation's commitment to human
> rights and the rule of law raised grave questions in my mind about 
> whether
> she was the right person to represent our nation to the rest of the 
> world.
>
> 	Despite her distinguished career and formidable intellect, I could not
> overlook these very troubling aspects of Dr. Rice's record.  America 
> has
> lost a voice of moderation with the retirement of Colin Powell.  I hope
> that the responsibilities of leadership will inspire Condoleezza Rice 
> to
> follow his example.
>
> 	Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.  Please feel free 
> to
> stay in touch.
>
> 					Sincerely,
>
>
>
>
> 					Richard J. Durbin
> 					United States Senator
>
> RJD/rp
>
>


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliogrpaher and Professor of Library Administration
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801

tel. 217-333-6519
fax 217-333-2214
akagan at uiuc.edu
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: text/enriched
Size: 2382 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/private/peace-discuss/attachments/20050225/ee1c82a0/attachment-0001.bin