Scholars Urge Bush to Ban Use of Torture

As Bush visited a High School he was presented with a letter signed by fifty high school seniors in the Presidential Scholars program urging a halt to "violations of the human rights" of terror suspects held by the United States.

The handwritten letter said the students "believe we have a responsibility to voice our convictions."

"We do not want America to represent torture. We urge you to do all in your power to stop violations of the human rights of detainees, to cease illegal renditions, and to apply the Geneva Convention to all detainees, including those designated enemy combatants," the letter said.

Bush apparently was taken back and did not expect to presented with such a letter. Nevertheless, he took the time to read it.

"The president enjoyed a visit with the students, accepted the letter and upon reading it let the student know that the United States does not torture and that we value human rights," deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.

At the same time as we are learning things like this:

According to Alberto J. Mora, Cheney was actually setting out, when he asked Bush to adopt Addington's formula, to specifically avoid a ban on cruelty. Now, most sane people would at this point be perplexed, after all what is the difference between torture and cruelty? Mora has the answer:

In international law, Mora said, cruelty is defined as "the imposition of severe physical or mental pain or suffering." He added: "Torture is an extreme version of cruelty."

So the honest answer should have been, "We don't do torture, we are a civilised nation. We only indulge in cruelty but we always stop before the pain level reaches that of organ failure or death."

With that he could have smiled sweetly and the camera could have gone for the close up on the girl's face as it filled with love knowing that her nation was led by a man of principle.

Click title for full article.

Tags: Bush, High school students letter, torture