Torture Must Not Be Tolerated
Kucinich gave the following speech in Congress on July 20, 2005:
Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (CA) offered an amendment to H.R. 2601, Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007. The Rohrabacher amendment expresses the sense of Congress that "the detention facilities and interrogations at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, plays an essential role in the security of the United States and should not be closed or ended while the United States is waging the Global War of Terrorism.detention facilities and interrogations at Guantanamo Bay should not be closed."
Speaking in opposition to the Rohrabacher amendment, Congressman Kucinich said:
"Mr. Chairman, with all due respect to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), the author of the amendment, what protects American citizens in this country and around the world is this country’s adherence to the rule of law and this country’s abiding by international law.
"Wherever we have seen violations of international law if they are endorsed by the United States, it jeopardizes the security of American citizens everywhere. I think that is the point of those who are challenging this amendment which would unfortunately seem to gloss over the torture that has occurred at various places of detention.
"We certainly have a right to secure this country and to make sure that American citizens are safe. But the only way we can do that effectively is to make sure that we show respect for the law and to make sure that we show condemnation, not just of terrorists, but condemnation of torture.
"I think this amendment, while I certainly respect the dedication of the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher) to the American people, I think that we need to challenge the underlying assumption, and that is that torture should not be tolerated."
[Ed. note: The Rohrabacher amendment was agreed to by recorded vote: 304 - 124 (Roll No. 396).]
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