Letter to Senators re: Obama and "Enhanced Interrogation Techniques"

Senators Webb and Warner,

There are some major questions related to the safety and security of our country and its citizens – the protection of which is among the primary duties of Congress and the President – which you should answer for your constituents.

First some background; President Obama this week released CIA memos related to “enhanced interrogation techniques” used on terrorists who attacked or planned attacks on America. He did so over the objection of the past four Directors of the CIA, who warned that doing so would not make America “safer and stronger”, as Obama claimed, but would in fact do just the opposite by giving enemies detailed information on the limits our interrogators are bound by. Obama has so far ignored requests to release memos that detail what was learned through those techniques and how Americans were better protected based on what was learned. Now Obama is leaving the door open to prosecutions of those who served in the prior administration who may have been involved in providing the legal opinions authorizing such techniques, and others. He’s conveniently leaving off the list of potential targets for prosecution all the Democrats in Congress who were fully and completely briefed on exactly which techniques were going to be used on which terrorists when. Pelosi, Reid and all their cohorts knew exactly what was happening as it happened, but raised no objection. Their blatant hypocrisy in complaining about these techniques now would be stunning if it hadn’t become so routine.

Now my questions:
Do you believe that the release of the CIA memos detailing the use of “enhanced interrogation techniques” will make America “safer and stronger”? If so, what logic supports that position? Al Qaeda’s goal was, and remains, destruction of America and our way of life. Their goal was not to make sure we didn’t use enhanced interrogation techniques, so it would seem that believing that eliminating those techniques from our arsenal will make us safer defies basic logic.
Do you believe that President Obama should release all memos related to this topic, so Americans will know what was gained when such techniques were used? Obama promised “a new age of transparency”. If he was telling the truth, he should give Americans the whole story and tell us not just what the CIA can no longer do, but also what we’ll no longer get by giving up those techniques?
Do you support Obama’s position that members of the prior administration should be subject to prosecution for roles related to the enhanced interrogation techniques? If so, shouldn’t the members of Congress who were fully briefed on these interrogations be held to the same standard?

Senators, the fact that the President would flip-flop once again – having previously said he would not allow prosecutions of members of the Bush administration – and now effectively allow the prosecution of officials in a prior administration for what are basically differences of opinion, is frightening. All this while the Secretary of Homeland Security is saying that what demonstrably is a crime – crossing our borders illegally – is not a crime.

Has Washington gone completely mad? Obama is willing to prosecute the very officials who worked hard and successfully kept America safe since 9/11/01 – using techniques that Congress was fully informed of at the time – and his administration is not willing to enforce the laws that prevent criminals and potential terrorists from crossing our borders. Do you agree with these positions the Obama administration has taken?

The courtesy of a clear, direct response from which a constituent can determine your actual position on these issues would be appreciated.


Respectfully,

Lou