Former DOD Officials Urge Congress to Preserve the Geneva Conventions

[Omaha Steve]

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=72524

29 Retired Admirals and Generals, Military Leaders and Former DOD Officials Urge Congress to Preserve the Geneva Conventions

9/15/2006 1:25:00 PM

To: National Desk

Contact: Elisa Massimino, [e-mail] or 202-547-5692 ext.3200, or John Hutson 603-228-1541 or [e-mail], both for Human Rights First

WASHINGTON, Sept. 15 /U.S. Newswire/ -- In a letter to Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee released publicly today, 29 retired military leaders urged Congress to reject a provision of the Military Commissions Act of 2006 that would redefine Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions so as to downgrade the Conventions' standards for humane treatment.

In a separate letter, addressed to Senator John McCain, former U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Vessey, said: "If such legislation is being considered, I fear that it may weaken America in two respects. First, it would undermine the moral basis which has generally guided our conduct in war throughout our history. Second, it could give opponents a legal argument for the mistreatment of Americans being held prisoner in times of war." Read the full letter.

The letter signed by 29 former military leaders also urged Congress to make the safety and protection of U.S. troops, should they become prisoners, the highest priority.

"This is not just a theoretical concern," the letter signed by General John Shalikashvili, General Joseph Hoar and others, said. "We have people deployed right now in theaters where Common Article 3 is the only source of legal protection should they be captured. If we allow that standard to be eroded, we put their safety at greater risk."

FULL story at link above.

[texpatriot2004]

1. Indeed! Uphold the Rule of Law nm

[rodeodance]

2. Mr. Bush-----listen up!

[IndianaGreen]

6. The Chief Chicken Hawk listens to no one!

Without doubt, Bush is the worst President ever and he is the first President to bring shame to our nation, and to put himself above the Constitution.

[Vidar]

3. The Geneva Convention will go on without us. We will simply be

universally recognized as the renegade nation we really are.

[jazzjunkysue]

4. 29 Generals in one day? Fast work. Impressive.

Let's see it double by next week.

[Booster]

5. Did I hear that little shit right? He's threatening that if Congress

doesn't give him what he wants he will shut down the work the CIA is doing on terrorism? What a petulant little boy.

[DoYouEverWonder]

8. It did sound like a threat didn't it

The problem for the chimp is everyone is sick of his crap.

[Booster]

9. Somebody in Congress needs to dress this little man down by

saying "are you threatening us with the lives of the American people"? That would shut the little fucktard up once and for all with his little pennyhen bantering. Of course, I guess they could all expect to get little envelopes with a white substance in them, but, dammit, somebody has got to stand up to the little man.

[VegasWolf]

7. Citizens of the world want the Bush turd flushed down the toilet. nt