SHOULD TORTURE BE A PRESIDENTIAL POLICY OPTION?

There is a bipartisan proposal to add a provision to the defense appropriation bill that would bar the U.S. military from engaging in "cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment" of detainees. The president is being urged by his staff to veto the bill if he is not allowed to engage in torture at his sole discretion, with the vice-president claiming it would usurp presidential authority.

This is especially meaningful in the context of the hearings Friday where seasoned intelligence operatives stepped forward to testify that GOOD intelligence comes from building relationships over decades with foreign sources on a TRUST basis, not by pulling off the people's fingernails. It is precisely the rest of the world's confidence in our intelligence agencies that the outing by administration officials of one of our own top secret undercover agents has so wantonly destroyed for petty political purposes. And they did it AGAIN by outing a key inside source whose information would have prevented the recent British transit attacks. We are getting bad intelligence from administration policies that are doing nothing but destroy our country and our respect in the civilized world. Please tell Congress to demand that the torture must STOP.

Why don't you tell Congress where you stand? Here, we'll make it easy for you. All you have to do is fill in one form now and with one click we will send your personal message to both of your senators, your house representative too. We'll even look them up based on your address and tell you who they are. Just a few simple words from you mean more than any form letter can. Please read the question carefully to make sure your vote matches your comments.

If you think the president should not be prevented from authorizing torture, vote "No", otherwise if you believe Congress should step in and pass legislation to stop torture of detainees, then vote "Yes". Even if you don't think your particular representatives would agree with your position it is important for them to hear from you.

Text of petition is your own