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Last week the Administration put forward legislation to establish military commissions and procedures for trials of terror suspects.  The legislation includes amendments to the War Crimes Act that undermine U.S. prohibitions on torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment.

The president’s speech last week confirmed that a separate set of interrogation techniques was approved by the Administration for use by the CIA.  This is in violation of the McCain amendment, which the president signed January 2006.  The McCain amendment explicitly prohibited cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment by all U.S. personnel – no  exceptions.

The proposed legislation would amend the War Crimes Act so that those who violate the prohibition against humiliating and degrading treatment under the Geneva conventions or the McCain amendment could not be held accountable.  The men and women who serve within the CIA deserve to have clear rules for interrogations just as the Defense Department does through the Army Field Manual.  There should be no exceptions for the fair and humane treatment of all detainees and no exceptions for holding those responsible for abuse accountable.

Urge your Senators and Representatives to hold the CIA accountable for the treatment and interrogation tactics used on detainees.  If the U.S. abandons basic principles of fair treatment and respect for the rule of law, we will be sacrificing what it means to be an American and endangering our troops abroad.