[Peace] FW: urgent action against Gonzales/torture

[Matt Reichel]

I find the following to be an important stance to take against the erosion 
of basic principles of human dignity and human rights inherent to the UN 
charter, Geneva Convention, UNDHR, and the like.

However, I do not like it when Gonzales' name is conflated with the Abu 
Ghraib torture scandal, which I saw as a military culture problem more than 
any intentional attempt by members of the administration to re-write the 
rules. In fact, Abu Ghraib has been a public relations disaster for Rumsfeld 
and Co: an un-intenetioned disaster at that.


>From: Peace Action <Peaceact at democracyinaction.org>
>Reply-To: Peaceact at democracyinaction.org
>To: mattreichel at hotmail.com
>Subject: urgent action against Gonzales/torture
>Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2005 18:26:40 -0600 (CST)
>
>Dear friend,
>
>The Senate may vote on the Alberto Gonzales nomination for attorney general 
>as early as the 21st of January!
>
>Let's tell the U.S. Senate,
>and the world, that torture is not an American value.
>
>1. Help place this TV ad in targeted states around the country on the 19th 
>and 20th
>
>see the
>ad here 
>https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/organizations/Peaceact/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=133
>
>
>2.  Join the coordinated national call-in
>day on the 18th
>
>3.   Forward this action alert to friends around the country.
>
>As White House counsel, Alberto Gonzales forged legal opinions on
>torture and detainment that sought to permit the president of the United 
>States to do an end-run around international law, U.S. law, good military 
>conduct
>and common decency. Mr. Gonzales's involvement in the crafting of the 
>infamous August 2002 "torture memo" that gave CIA interrogators the legal 
>blessings
>to conduct torture, and his work on two presidential orders on detainee 
>policy have provoked controversy and judicial reprimand during Bush's first 
>term.
>Mr. Gonzales' role as architect of the Bush administration's policies on 
>detention and torture makes him unfit for the job of Attorney General of 
>the United
>States.
>
>TV AD CAMPAIGN
>
>In conjunction with MoveOn.org and Peace Action affiliates around the 
>country, we will be running hard-hitting television
>ads in key states country next week encouraging public opposition and 
>pressure on senators to vote against Gonzales.   To see the ad and make a 
>donation
>to help get the ads on the air, please click here.
>
>
>SENATE CALL-IN CAMPAIGN
>
>On January 19, the Senate Judiciary Committee has scheduled a meeting
>likely to include a vote on the nomination of Alberto Gonzales for Attorney 
>General. If the committee endorses the nomination, the full Senate could 
>vote
>to confirm Gonzales as early as the afternoon of January 21.
>
>On January 18, please join Peace Action members and concerned citizens 
>across the United
>States for a National Call-in Day to the U.S. Senate (as you know, the 
>House of Representatives does not vote on Cabinet appointments).  Call the 
>Capitol
>Switchboard, 202.224.3121, and ask for your Senator or call your Senator's 
>local office.  Tell your Senators that torture is not an American value and
>to vote against Alberto Gonzales!
>
>Go to the Peace Action web page to download a flyer on the national call-in 
>day to share with family, friends and
>neighbors. www.peace-action.org
>
>Thank you for joining in telling the truth about Alberto Gonzales' role in 
>Bush's torture scandal and urging our senators
>/*Your email ID. <diaEmailID='5477625'/>--*/

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