Byline: 

The leading editorial of the New York Times, Looking at America (December 31, 2007) highlights how people in some of the most trusted posts in the nation plotted to cover up the torture of prisoners by the Central Intelligence Agency interrogators by destroying videotapes of their sickening behavior. As the Times pointed out, it was impossible to see the founding principles of the greatest democracy in the contempt these men showed for the Constitution, the rule of law, and human decency. I agree with the New York Times that our mean-spirited behavior has fed the world’s anger and alienation and has not made any of us safer. As the Bible reminds us, “Those that live by the sword, die by the sword.”

The abuses of the current administration far exceed any violation of civil liberties during previous periods of national emergency such as the Civil War, World War II, or even the Cold War. While we should always remain vigilant in protection or our nation, we must also remember that we have historically gained the world’s esteem by our code of ethics, our belief in “fair play” and our treasuring the legacy of our Bill of Rights.

In Tim Weiner’s book, Legacy of Ashes, the history of the CIA, the author highlighted numerous incidents where the CIA acted with the same incompetence of Peter Sellers’ celebrated Inspector Cleaseau. In fact, the title of the book Legacy of Ashes derived from Dwight Eisenhower’s comment that the CIA was founded as the successor to the incompetent OSS, run by “Wild Bill” Donavon during World War II.

The New York Times felt that the impetus for our unsavory actions stemmed from our outrage over the September 11, 2001 attacks. Unfortunately, to fight terror, we have descended into lawlessness, and thereby squandered America’s global image and trampled on the constitutional pillars that have supported our democracy. 

Since 9/11 we have seen American soldiers abuse, sexually humiliate, torment, and murder prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have seen mercenaries’ gun down Iraqi civilians with no fear of prosecution. We have seen President Bush authorize intelligence agencies to spy on Americans, wiretapping phones and intercepting international e-mail messages without a warrant. Furthermore, we have witnessed how American lawyers have sought to circumvent the Geneva Conventions.

In a nutshell, we have turned intelligence agents into torturers. We have even forced doctors to abdicate their professional oaths, and monitor the torment or prisoners to make sure that the prisoners might not die

The New York Times commented that the Administration used the tragedy of 9/11 to arrogate as much power as they could.

We have used Guantanamo Bay as a repository for prisoners because it is “beyond the reach of American laws.” In other foreign lands, the CIA set up secret jails where detainees were subjected to ever more barbaric acts, including simulated drowning. The videotapes of these tortures were destroyed in the hopes of hiding the facts from the American public.

The CIA contracted out its inhumanity to nations with no respect for life or law. We tortured prisoners into making false confessions, and then let some of them go without any apology or hoped for redress. We have used Yemen, Sudan, Kuwait, and other countries to house prisoners in order that the abuses “not be subject to the American legal system.”

In conclusion, as we approach the 2008 election, we need to select a President who will reverse the disgusting actions of the current administration. We need to take pride in our nation’s historic reverence for civil rights so that we can rebuild our international prestige. History has shown that bullies such as Spain, Nazi Germany, and the Soviet Union cannot forever suppress “the better angels of our nature.”