On Second Anniversary of Release of Abu Ghraib Photos, ACLU Sees Growing Opposition to Administration’s Abuse of Power
CONTACT: media@aclu.org
“No One is Above
the Law, Not Even the President”
Statement of Anthony D. Romero,
ACLU Executive Director
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> Report to the UN Committee Against Torture
> Government Torture and Abuse |
NEW YORK -- Two years since the publication of the notorious photos depicting
torture and abuse of detainees in U.S. custody at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq,
only a small number of low-ranking soldiers has been prosecuted, with great
fanfare. The Bush administration has steadfastly refused to hold
high-level officials accountable for creating the policies and tolerating a
permissive climate that resulted in the abuse of detainees. That denial of
accountability must end if we are to ensure that we never repeat the mistakes of
Abu Ghraib.
The ACLU is determined to hold the Bush administration
responsible not just for torture and abuse of detainees, but for the many other
abuses of power that are taking place in the name of fighting terrorism.
By ordering kidnapping and by "rendering" individuals to be
tortured abroad, by conducting warrantless eavesdropping on Americans here at
home and by issuing secret demands for our library records and other personal
information, President Bush is violating America’s values of freedom and
fairness. America cannot hold itself up as a moral beacon to the world if
we violate the rule of law and engage in illegal spying, torture and
secrecy.
Fortunately, Americans increasingly are raising
concerns. A recent poll conducted by the ACLU found that 65 percent of
Americans “strongly disapprove” of government-sanctioned torture, 70 percent
oppose secret home searches and 54 percent oppose the warrantless surveillance
program. On the subject of combating terrorism, 60 percent of respondents
believe the president should work with Congress and the courts, within the
time-honored system of checks and balances established in the Constitution.
Significantly, at least a third of Republican voters polled
expressed concern that President Bush is operating outside of the law. And
senior Republicans in Congress have begun demanding more information and
oversight.
No one is above the law, not even the U.S.
president. After all, how can America fight for democracy in Iraq and
Afghanistan when we allow the president to break the law here at home?
For the results of the ACLU’s poll go to:
www.aclu.org/safefree/nsaspying/24262res20060224.html
More
information on the ACLU's lawsuit to hold top U.S. officials accountable for
torture of detainees is online at: www.aclu.org/rumsfeld