SENATOR TOM COTTON THINKS WATERBOARDING ISNT TORTURE

     True to my word, my letter/email campaign for decency starts now. I'm on a mission to civilize. U.S. Senator for Arkansas Tom Cotton on CNN stated that waterboarding captured enemy combatants isnt torture, and that if the military needs to do it, so be it. So, the first question is, whats Waterboarding? According to google, Waterboarding is an interrogation technique simulating the experience of drowning, in which a person is strapped, face up, to a board that slopes downward at the head, while large quantities of water are poured over the face into the breathing passages. That sounds pretty terrible. Is it torture? 

Waterboarding is, in fact, widely considered to meet the definition of torture in the United Nations Convention Against Torture, ratified in 1990 by the U.S. Senate. "Torture," it says, "means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purpose as obtaining from him or her information of a confession" and when it is done with the consent of anyone acting in an official capacity. The International Committee of the Red Cross also considers waterboarding torture. And the U.S. executed half a dozen Japanese generals after World War II found guilty of torturing American prisoners of war with techniques that included water torture.

Okay, so it is torture, why shouldn't the U.S. torture enemy combatants? 
1. The Senate report on the CIA’s detention and interrogation program represents the most authoritative and comprehensive finding since the US launched its “war on terror” says that torture does not work.
2. Arizona Senator John McCain, who was a POW for five and a half years, says this of torture: "I know from personal experience that the abuse of prisoners will produce more bad than good intelligence. I know that victims of torture will offer intentionally misleading information if they think their captors will believe it. I know they will say whatever they think their torturers want them to say if they believe it will stop their suffering." And most importantly 3. Senator John McCain also says of torture
"the use of torture compromises that which most distinguishes us from our enemies, our belief that all people, even captured enemies, possess basic human rights."

     So, to review, Waterboarding is torture, is not effective and compromises our values and tarnishes our reputation around the world. So, here is my letter, sent to Senator Cotton, asking him to re-consider his position, as his opinion carries more than most (seeing as how hes a U.S. Senator and all).  

To the honorable Senator Cotton,
     I saw on CNN today that you don't believe that Waterboarding is torture. The United Nations Convention Against Torture, ratified in 1990 by the U.S. Senate "Torture," it says, "means any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purpose as obtaining from him or her information of a confession" and when it is done with the consent of anyone acting in an official capacity. The International Committee of the Red Cross also considers waterboarding torture. And the U.S. executed half a dozen Japanese generals after World War II found guilty of torturing American prisoners of war with techniques that included water torture. Also, The Senate report on the CIA's detention and interrogation program represents the most authoritative and comprehensive finding since the US launched its “war on terror” says that torture does not work. Your fellow Senator John McCain I believe would tell you the same. I also believe that it compromises our values as Americans, and tarnishes our reputation around the world. Please re-consider your stance. I'm not one of your constituents, but I feel this is an important issue. Thank you for your time. 

Sincerely, 

(your name here)

You can find Senator Tom Cottons email if you follow the link in the right hand column titled U.S. Senate website.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/09/politics/tom-cotton-waterboarding-torture/

http://www.npr.org/2016/02/13/466544830/fact-check-could-the-next-president-bring-back-waterboarding

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2014/dec/09/senate-committee-cia-torture-does-not-work

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/12/John-Mccain-Speech-Senate-Republican-CIA-Torture-Report/383589/

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc-originals/watch/-trump-doesn-t-speak-for-african-americans-727403075653