The FAX numbers for the nine senators are:
Jon Kyle, (R-AZ) 202-224-2207
Kit Bond, (R-MO) (telephone) 202-224-5721
Richard Burr, (R-NC) 202-228-2981
Jeff Sessions, (R-Ala) 202-224-3149
Saxby Chambliss, (R-Ga) 202-224-0103
Tom Coburn, (R-Okla) 202-224-6008
John Cornyn, (R-TX) 202-228-2856
Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) 202-224-6020
Orin Hatch (R-Utah) 202-224-6331

NOTICE Of EVENT: A PUBLIC FOUUM ON CONGRESSIONAL/LEGISLATIVE REDISTRICTING
When: SATURDAY AUG 29, 2009, 10:am to NOON
Where: Palmetto branch Library 923 6th St. W., Palmetto
Panelists: ELLIS Robinson, DIRECTOR RUTHS LIST,PATRICIA KEMP, FAIR DISTRICTS FLORIDA [HILLSBOROUGH} ,,,,CHRIS WILLE, EDITORIAL CHIEF, BRADENTON HERALD
Moderator: Augi Schmitz, host of the Edge on Comcast TV
SPONSOR: SOUTHWEST FLOIDA COATLITION for PEACE AND JUSTICE

FLVCS is helping to coordinate the petition drive to put the Fair Districts Initiative on the ballot in order to obtain a Constitutional Amendment to prohibit gerrymanding: For information about our petition drive contact Harry Stimmel at 941-966-7331 or Stan Ross at 941-366-5212
__________________________________________________________
The cost of America's wars is a huge burden on a bankrupt country, but the cost incurred by veterans might be even higher. Homelessness is a prevalent condition of veterans, as is post-traumatic stress. American soldiers, who naively fought for the munitions industry's wars, for high compensation for the munitions CEOs, and for dividends and capital gains for the munitions shareholders, paid not only with lives and lost limbs, but also with broken marriages, ruined careers, psychiatric disorders, and prison sentences for failing to make child support payments. Craig Paul Roberts
FLVCS LETTER TO ATTORNEY GENERAL HOLDER

August 21, 2009

The Honorable Eric Holder
Attorney General of the United States
Washington, DC 20530
VIA FAX

Dear Mr. Attorney General:

Press reports indicate that nine senators have sent you a letter urging that you not appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate those who apparently authorized and used torture in violation of United States and international law.

Contrary to the view of the nine senators, the Justice Department serves the country best when it prosecutes serious violations of law wherever the violations occur. Our Constitution, which we as veterans and you as a federal official swore an oath to uphold, stands for the proposition that we are a country under the law, not ruled by men or the whim of nine senators.

Contrary to the senators' letter, torture is not as effective as legal interrogation techniques. There is no persuasive evidence in the public record confirming the assertion of the senators' statement that torture was absolutely vital to capturing terrorists and preventing attacks on the United States as confirmed by the May 20, 2005 Memo by Justice Department Principal Deputy Attorney General, Steven G. Bradbury to CIA General Counsel John Rizzo. Torture most often garners time consuming, unreliable information.

You are bound to investigate and prosecute if violations of law are confirmed. The Convention Against Torture (CAT) signed by President Reagan in 1988 and ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1994 obligates the U.S. to conduct a "prompt and impartial investigation" and "submit the case to competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution." The federal anti-torture statue, 18 USC Sec. 2340A, criminalizes torture and the conspiracy to commit torture and creates jurisdiction in the U.S. courts.

Contrary to the view of the nine senators, ignoring violations of law by excusing torture harms our legal and moral standing and thereby increases the possibility of future terrorist attacks.

Please note that all nine senators who signed the letters to you are Republicans. Apparently, they want to politicize the matter instead of standing up for our troops and values by demanding accountability. Please don't follow their misguided efforts, abide by your oath of office and follow the law.

Sincerely,

Gene Jones
President, Florida Veterans for Common Sense, Inc.



FLVCS LETTER TO SENATORS

August 21, 2009

Senators Jon Kyl, Kit Bond, Jeff Sessions, Richard Burr, Saxby Chambliss, Tom Coburn, John Cornyn, Chuck Grassley, and Orrin Hatch
Washington, DC 20530
VIA FAX

Dear Senators Bond, Burr, Chambliss, Coburn, Cornyn, Grassley, Hatch, Kyl, and Sessions:

Please find herewith a letter to Attorney General Holder in response to your letter to him urging that he drop the idea of appointing a special prosecutor to investigate torture by some in our government.

As veterans, we expect United States senators to stand up for American values and the troops. Our basic military training taught us that torture is immoral, illegal, and ineffective. Also, torture is a recruiting tool for terrorists that results in more troops being killed and injured.

You must know that authorizing or conducting torture is illegal. Most of you were in the Senate when the Convention Against Torture (CAT) was ratified. Why therefore have you as federal officials, who have sworn an oath to protect and defend the Constitution, urged Attorney General Holder to ignore apparent violations of the law at the highest levels of government?

We note that the only people held accountable for authorizing or conducting torture have been low ranking enlisted personnel. Can we conclude from your letter to Attorney General Holder that you advocate one set of laws for high officials and another for those of lower status?

Florida Veterans for Common Sense requests that you retract your letter to Attorney General Holder and submit another calling for accountability for torture. Otherwise, what conclusion can we reach except that you repudiate your oath to the Constitution and equal justice under the law?

Sincerely,

Gene Jones
President, Florida Veterans for Common Sense, Inc.