Letter: Let’s send a message this Election Day

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2006 | 7:28 a.m.

The Bush foreign policy, which can be termed "might is right," has once again failed in the area of human rights as it did in Iraq. Just because there is power and strength to pursue a course of action, does not make it morally right.

Recently the administration was forced by the U. S. Supreme Court to reverse its policy regarding prisoners of war (or as this administration termed them, "enemy combatants").

Now all decent, peace-loving Americans should be outraged that our government would even consider using such practices as waterboarding, hooding, stripping and shackling of detainees in painful positions while using intimidating dogs, prolonged isolation, deprivation of food and sleep and exposure to extremes of temperature.

These practices were dismissed as the acts of a few bad apples. Now there is clear evidence that much of this rotten treatment stemmed right from the core: Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. It seems that one bad apple can spoil the bushel, especially if that apple is at the top.

President Bush is asking Congress to make legal these previously illegal policies. Unfortunately, voices of the decent, peace-loving silent majority are seldom heard above the powerful corporate and special money interests. The only time we are heard is election time.

This election, let's shout it loud and clear: Not in the name of my country. Don't elect a Congress that will bring shame and disgrace to our nation.

William Jacobs, Las Vegas