Rendering Rendition Reprehensible
In yesterday's New York Times there was an op-ed piece by one Michael Scheuer. In this screed Mr. Scheuer argues in favor of extreme rendition, the practice of handing prisoners in the so-called war on terrorism over to nation that we know will torture them. Here is the text of a letter I have sent in to the times in response:
To The Editor:
In his op-ed piece Michael Scheuer eschews morality and legality in the name of results. He makes clear that all parties were aware that they were in clear violation of US laws, and conspired to concoct a cover story to provide the illusion of legitimacy. The complicity of the president himself, whether Bill Clinton of George W. Bush, makes these extra-legal renditions more disgraceful. Both men should be tried for these crimes.
Apparently Mr. Scheuer and various high-ranking government officials have lost sight of the fact that they are sworn to protect not just the people and territory of the United States, but the Constitution and the values embodied in that document as well. The behavior Mr. Scheuer praises bears more resemblance to the tyranny we are supposedly opposing than it does to our own democratic tradition.
Osama bin Laden and his followers may have killed thousands of innocent Americans, but tortured reasoning such as Mr. Scheuer's is killing America.