AP News, April 13th, 2007
Four Democratic presidential candidates have agreed to attend private tutorials by retired military officers who say the war on terrorism can be won without sacrificing human rights.
The gathering, scheduled this weekend, was organized by the nonpartisan group Human Rights First and John Hutson, a retired rear admiral who served as the Navy's top lawyer. Starting Friday and continuing through Sunday, candidates will attend separate, hour-long meetings at Franklin Pierce Law Center, where Hutson serves as dean.
"We think it's important to talk to the candidates, one of whom may be the next president, so when they go out on the campaign trail they have the opportunity to speak from strength and a position of knowledge and familiarity," Hutson said.
Though all presidential candidates were invited, only four planned to attend: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Friday, Sen. Joe Biden and Rep. Dennis Kucinich on Saturday, and former Sen. John Edwards on Sunday. Organizers said they planned to catch up with the others over the next few months.
Several of the retired military officers said their goal was to emphasize that the United States should adhere to the Geneva Conventions when it comes to detaining and interrogating prisoners.
"There are many facets to this issue, but overshadowing all of them is a basic moral imperative to show the American people, and in fact the world, that the United States can wage and win the war on terrorism without sacrificing its overall value system and rule of law," said retired Gen. Charles Krulak, former commandant of the Marine Corps.
Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Hoar said he will urge the candidates to focus less on the detainees and their crimes and more on what it means to be an American.
"This is not about our adversaries. This is about who we are," said Hoar, former head of U.S. Central Command. "We're Americans. We stand for the rights of individuals and people who are captured. We don't torture them. We don't subject them to inhumane behavior."
The retired officers said they don't want to cast the discussion in a partisan light, although many of them have been vocal critics of the Bush administration's policies.
Members noted that they had worked closely with Republican Sen. John McCain, who championed legislation in 2005 prohibiting the use of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of military and CIA prisoners.
Edwards said he looked forward to having a serious discussion with the retired officials.
"The scandals of Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib, and secret prisons have tarnished our moral standing and set a dangerous precedent for repressive regimes around the world," he said Friday. "The true tragedy is that _ as these military leaders make clear _ these steps have made us less safe, not safer."
