Letter to the editor

America must renounce torture

The America I believe in does not torture. Yet one year ago the Senate torture report revealed that the CIA used torture techniques on detainees as part of the global “War on Terror.”

Torture is a human rights violation no matter what deplorable actions are taken against the U.S. This Senate torture report contains new evidence of the crime of torture, and was sent to the Department of Justice one year ago. The America I believe in would ensure that torture abuses of the past never occur again.

I hope that in the remaining months of the Obama administration that President Obama act to address the human rights violations that were committed by our country in the name of national security. Torture does not make our country more secure and torture is never justified.

I would ask Sen. Patrick Leahy, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Peter Welch to make a public statement urging President Obama to ensure accountability for torture.

CAROLYN SMILES

Essex Junction