Wikileaks Releases Iraq Documents, Daniel Ellsberg Comments

Renew Calls for Truth and Accountability: Wikileaks shows the war was worse than we knew
Voters for Peace to jbennet action@votersforpeace.org
Photo Gallery: Images of a Bloody War | Take Action Now
Dear Dick,
The publication of nearly 400,000 Iraq War documents over the weekend by Wikileaks shows the Iraq War was worse than we even knew.

There have been more civilian deaths, with U.S. helicopters shooting at buildings for little reason, failing to investigate the killing of reporters, killings at checkpoints, and killing of civilians trying to surrender.

There has been more abuse of prisoners, including beatings, burnings, electrocution, and rape.

There has been more torture and a U.S. military order not to investigate torture.

There have likely been war crimes committed by the United States.

The United States remain cannot silent as these truths become known. If the people who committed crimes are not held accountable is that not the de facto approval of those crimes? If the leaders who violated U.S. law and allowed the mistreatment of civilians are not held accountable, why will future leaders obey the law?

Manfred Nowak, the chief U.N. investigator on torture, says that under international law the United States is obliged to examine claims that our military handed over Iraqi detainees knowing they might be killed, tortured, or abused.

As bad as the facts are, Americans do not even know the worst of it. Early in his presidency, President Obama reversed course and decided not to release photographs and videos showing U.S. soldiers' abuse of prisoners. The evidence contained in this material is even worse than what we have already seen and read about Abu Ghraib, Guantánamo, Bagram, and other U.S. prison sites.

Join us in calling for truth and accountability. We cannot become a more perfect union, we cannot achieve the best hopes we have for ourselves as a nation, if we allow the truth to be hidden and potential war crimes to remain uninvestigated and unprosecuted. Without truth and accountability the United States will continue in a direction of abuse, war, and occupation.

Wikileaks' publication is an opportunity to tell our elected leaders to act against abusive militarism. It is a chance to tell them to investigate, hold public hearings, bring out the truth, and hold people who committed crimes accountable. Please take action now and write your elected officials, President Obama and Attorney General Holder. Click here to write them now.

Thank you for continuing to speak out. Silence in the face of the ugly reality of American militarism only ensures it continues.
Sincerely,Kevin Zeese Executive Director









--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Voters for Peace is a nonpartisan organization that does not support or oppose candidates for office.



Voters for Peace

2842 N. Calvert St.

Baltimore, MD 21218
443-708-8360


Unsubscribe




Reply Forward

Send Saved DiscardDraft saved at 3:40 PM (1 hour ago)
From: Dick Bennett change
To: "Julie Thacker" , "Carl Barnwell" ,
Cc:
Bcc:
Add Cc | Add Bcc
Subject:
Attach a file Insert: Invitation
Attach a file

Loading rich text... « Plain Text Check Spelling Resume Editing





Send Saved DiscardDraft saved at 3:40 PM (1 hour ago)



IgnoreEdit Word