Loving the Enemy -- Our Call to Arms (Open ones)

In a previous post I suggested that with the Mukasey confirmation pretty much a done deal that we essentially move on to the next thing, which is passing a veto proof Congressional Law that will outlaw waterboarding.
Having made that argument -- which was made by the LA Times among others -- that political realities require his confirmation and that Congress then close the loophole that allows the CIA to use interrogation techniques (aka torture) not allowed to the military.

If the technique were waterboarding, we'd like to think that a lawyer of Mukasey's stature would answer yes. But if senators are unsure, there is a remedy: Close the loophole in the Detainee Treatment Act that gives CIA interrogators more latitude than their military counterparts. That double standard encourages speculation here and abroad that, regardless of what President Bush says, "enhanced" interrogation is torture by another name. An all-encompassing standard for interrogations has been endorsed by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who opposes Mukasey's confirmation. It also should be embraced by senators who plan to support the nominee.

Ultimately we need to hold our government accountable. As Christians we must abide by the teachings of Jesus who has called us to love not just the neighbor but the enemy as well. Let us move beyond Mukasey and hold those who vote for him to support a closing of this loophole. Let us remind the American people -- 90% of whom claim to be Christian -- of the teachings of Jesus. Let us also remind the President, who claims Jesus to be his favorite philosopher, of these same teachings. Then, speaking truth to power, change will happen. Arguing about Mukasey at this point won't get us to that point.

Comments

Anonymous said…
There is no legal loophole. We prosecuted union soldiers for waterboarding during the Civil War. We prosecuted Nazis and Japanese soldiers for waterboarding after WWII. We prosecuted U.S. soldiers for waterboarding during the Vietnam war.

Attempting to make waterboarding even more illegal will run into a Bush veto or signing statement. Mukasey has promised no one that he will resign over a Bush veto--only over refusal to obey a new law against waterboarding. We need an AG who will enforce the Constitution and existing law--which already outlaws waterboarding. It has been known as torture since the Inquisition.

The time for half-measures and compromises (all on the Democrats' side!) is long over.

Popular Posts