To Sen. John McCain, III (R) Arizona,

We the undersigned wish to bring to your attention our grave concern regarding this country's use of torture as a technique for the interrogation of its prisoners of war. We come to you as American citizens, with no regard for party politics, firmly united in our belief that this nation was founded in democracy and dedicated to freedom. This freedom has stood and flourished despite countless tests through a combination of the selfless bravery of our service men and women, and the steadfast moral clarity that what we stood for as a nation was righteous. That righteousness stands in doubt today as this country has adapted, for the first time in its history, a clear and avowed policy of excessive cruelty towards its prisoners of war. It is our belief that no democratic nation, however just in its goals, can continue to exist as a bastion of freedom as long as such a policy is in place. Open torture of any human being, regardless of their nationality or their crimes, proven or alleged, is a direct affront to the tenets upon which this nation was founded.

We come to you Senator because like the rest of us, as an American, you have not only the right, but also the responsibility to see that this nation, regardless of politics, continues to foster freedom at home and abroad, while staying true to its democratic origins. But above and beyond that basic American truth, Senator, we believe that you, as the only member of this government to have personally endured torture at the hands of an enemy, are uniquely qualified to take the question of torture before the American people today, and with our support, lend it the personal voice and gravity that it deserves. Opinion polls and rhetoric from both sides of the aisle clearly show that a majority of the citizens of this country do not believe in torture, and do not want it to be a part of what it means to be an American. But so far action is yet to be taken, and the possibility that this issue may quietly slip by the wayside seems all too real. We believe all that is lacking is the voice of a respected leader to focus the collective will of the American people, and elevate this issue to the level of a galvanizing American principle. You are, without question, the man for this job.

Using the definition of torture laid out in the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, adopted and opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution 39/46
of 10 December 1984, and signed by the United States on 18 April 1988, ratified on 21 October, 1994: "any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from him or a third person information or a confession, punishing him for an act he or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed, or intimidating or coercing him or a third person, or for any reason based on discrimination of any kind, when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity." We hold the following points to be irrefutable truths:

• Waterboarding is Torture.
• Torture is illegal in the United States.
• Torture is fundamentally Un-American.
• An open and avowed policy of Torture will do irrevocable harm to this nation's morale, and its continued pursuit of freedom for all.

We ask you Senator to consider these points and decide whether or not they are worth fighting for with the full weight of your personal and political strength. We do so knowing full well the risks you will be taking in doing so, and as such, We hereby pledge our unwavering support for any and all initiatives you take to permanently, and resoundingly outlaw waterboarding, and all forms of torture in the United States. With this issue sure to come to the floor of the Senate soon, we hope you will raise your voice on behalf of all of us to ensure that no individual will ever have to suffer at the hands of the United States, as you have suffered in the past.

Sincerely

The Undersigned