Dear Citizens' Initiative,

Please read this note from Gen. David Irvine, who taught interrogation
for 18 years, about ending torture in America's name.

Attorney General Mukasey recently told Congress that waterboarding isn't
torture and he won't stop it. If we want our next President to end
torture, we must *demand* it.

*Please join me in signing the Human Rights First petition to all the
Presidential candidates.
<http://mail.democrats.com/CT00024401MTE0MDc2MQAA.HTML?D=2008-02-19> *

Bob Fertik

Dear Friend,

I taught prisoner of war interrogation for 18 years to U.S. Army
soldiers. Neither I nor the Army taught torture: it's morally wrong, it
endangers our own troops who may be taken prisoner, it undermines our
values, and it does not produce reliable information.

*Torture is un-American. *

*One year from today, we can elect a President who 'gets it' - and
rejects it. ***

**Take 30 seconds to join 30,000
others in making a difference.
Sign the petition today!
<http://mail.democrats.com/CT00024404MTE0MDc2MQAA.HTML?D=2008-02-19>**

* <http://mail.democrats.com/CT00024405MTE0MDc2MQAA.HTML?D=2008-02-19>*

I've listened to some of our current leaders say that we should use
torture - what they call "enhanced" interrogation techniques - to combat
terrorism. Abandoning our principles is never the answer. An expert
interrogator needs to be clever, not inhumane.

Strong presidential leadership is needed to restore our nation's stature
in the eyes of the civilized world. This week, one year from the
presidential election, *I am adding my name *to Human Rights First's
petition, urging all of the presidential candidates to restore our
nation's honor. *You can do the same *.

*Take 30 seconds to join the over 30,000 Americans on Human Rights
First's petition against torture!
<http://mail.democrats.com/CT00024402MTE0MDc2MQAA.HTML?D=2008-02-19> *

This isn't about being tough on terrorists. It's about what's in the
strategic interest of the United States. Torture doesn't produce
reliable information but it does harden hearts and minds against us, and
torture by any agency of our government puts our own troops at greater
risk. It's time to stop playing semantic games about what torture is.

*If you're like me, you want a President who is truly devoted to this
country *, its longstanding laws, and its fundamental values. A
President who will:

    * Stop shipping prisoners to countries known to torture
    * Close Guantanamo
    * Restore the right of habeas corpus
    * Ensure that torture is never again a part of U.S. policy

**

*Take a stand - sign TODAY. This is not a partisan endeavor.
<http://mail.democrats.com/CT00024403MTE0MDc2MQAA.HTML?D=2008-02-19> *

In one year, we could be celebrating the election of a leader who
understands what's at stake. But only if we demand it today!

Thank you for joining me and Human Rights First as we end torture and
abuse in America's name.

Yours sincerely,

Brigadier General David R. Irvine, USA (Ret.)

/Human Rights First is a nonpartisan, 501(c)(3), international human
rights organization based in New York and Washington D.C. We do not
favor or oppose any candidate for public office. /