To candidates and elected officials:
Recently in our country’s political discourse there has been talk of using torture against our enemies. This regressive rhetoric discards the American values that so many men and women have fought to secure and defend throughout generations.
The United States does not and should not torture for three simple reasons: It’s not who we are, it’s not what those of us who served signed up to do, and not only does it not work, it makes our troops and our nation less secure.
Letting fear control our decisions is exactly how terrorists win. Torturing enemies only ensure that people will hate America, it emboldens their attacks and gives credence to their propaganda.
The undersigned men and women are against the rhetoric and suggested policies of torture.