Former U.S. Intelligence Officers’ request regarding the Nomination of Michael Mukasey for Attorney General

November 5, 2007

SUBJECT: Former U.S. Intelligence Officers’ request regarding the
Nomination of Michael Mukasey for Attorney General
TO: Senators Schumer and Feinstein, Ranking Members of the Senate
Committee on the Judiciary

Dear Senators Schumer and Feinstein,
As part of the Senate Judiciary Committee you have received a copy of
the attached letter, in which 24 former U.S. Intelligence Officers
request your committee withhold bringing Judge Mukasey’s nomination vote
to the full senate floor until he unequivocally declares whether or not
waterboarding is torture. As you are also aware it goes on to suggest
ways to educated Judge Mukasey on the technique in the event that his
hesitancy to take a position is due to a lack of knowledge rather than
an attempt to provide cover for this administration or any designate of
this administration for participation in this practice in the past,
present or future.
We ask that you truly consider not only what is being asked of you here
but by whom it is being asked. You are being asked by 24 of the men and
women who have committed themselves to the service of this country and
for whom the issue of torture is far more personal than it will ever be
to you or to 99.75% of the remainder of US citizens. These are the
people who must grapple with the physical, emotional and psychological
effects of torture both as potential recipients and executors of the
practice upon others, every day. Your committee is obligated to listen
to them when they speak about this subject for it is this government who
has put them in the position of being experts in this field. Showing
respect and heeding their concerns seems a small way to demonstrate the
respect they deserve for their service and commitment to this country.
Their request is not unreasonable, it is perfectly reasonable; their
abhorrence for torture, the disgrace it brings on this country and the
danger it brings to our armed services and citizens traveling in foreign
countries, reflects the opinions of the majority of Americans. But even
more fundamental than that and the reason you are required to honor
their request is that to ignore it would be a blatant violation of our
democracy and having our elected officials knowingly violate the very
democracy these 24 intelligence officers have committed their lives to
defending; including exposing themselves to the possibility of torture,
would be more than a great irony, it would unconscionable.

Please do the right thing and grant the request of the 24 former
Intelligence officers and hold off on bringing Mukasey’s nomination to
the Senate floor until he is able to say, unequivocally that
waterboarding is torture and illegal, even in the face of national security.
Thank you for your attention and the consideration you will give to
these intelligence officers.
Sincerely

Sincerely
State-netroots, NY