Senator Durbin emailed me AGAIN on my Abu Ghraib email.

[in_cog_ni_to]

Here's the email. I LOVE Dick Durbin! :loveya: He ROCKS!

on edit...The email I sent him was about the children being raped at Abu Ghraib. I wanted him to know that WE are out here and WE know that children were RAPED. This was his reply to that email. Just to clarify. :hi:



August 6, 2004


Dear Ms. *******:

Thank you for contacting me about the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S.
military personnel.

Like so many Americans, I was appalled by the revelations –- and graphic
photographs –- of the widespread mistreatment of Iraqis at Abu Ghraib
prison. These shameful acts violated our nation's most sacred ideals and
have overshadowed the countless acts of kindness, good will and bravery
performed by our American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The reality is that this abuse was not an isolated incident. It was a
series of actions that included the sadistic and blatant mistreatment of a
number of prisoners. In addition, other abuses led to the death of some
prisoners. These deeply troubling revelations are facts that we as a
nation must face up to. Those who are responsible must be held
accountable, from the soldiers involved in it all of the way up the chain
of command to the leadership that failed.

As a partial response, I called for Donald Rumsfeld to resign as our
nation's Secretary of Defense. His tenure has been marred by a number of
grave mistakes, including woefully inadequate planning for winning the
peace in post-war Iraq and a failure to adequately supply our military
personnel with protective equipment such as protective body armor and
modern defensive equipment for our helicopters. Secretary Rumsfeld's
failure to address conditions in Iraqi prisons, despite numerous reports
of mistreatment and repeated inquiries from other U.S. officials and the
International Red Cross, and his failure to keep Congress informed were
the deciding factors in my decision to call for his resignation.

Unfortunately, the abuses in Iraq are in many ways the logical byproduct
of the Administration's policies. In the aftermath of September 11, the
Bush Administration made it clear that it was prepared to bend some of the
time-honored rules of warfare when it came to the treatment of prisoners,
creating a secret detention system outside the strictures of domestic and
international law. It also engaged in a protracted, internal debate about
whether it could redefine torture for the war on terrorism and whether
this President, as Commander in Chief, was above the law. And the Bush
Administration has refused to cooperate with Congressional efforts to
investigate what happened at Abu Ghraib and U.S. policies concerning the
treatment and interrogation of prisoners.

I offered an amendment to the 2005 Defense Authorization bill to reaffirm
a very important, long-standing position of our nation: that the United
States shall not engage in torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment. This amendment, which was approved by the U.S. Senate without
opposition, requires the Secretary of Defense to issue guidelines to
ensure compliance with the prohibition on torture and report to Congress
on any suspected violations of the prohibition on torture or cruel,
inhuman or degrading treatment.

Our commitment to principle, even during difficult times, has made
America a special country. Torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment are inconsistent with the principles of liberty and the rule of
law that underpin our democracy. I will continue to do all I can to
ensure that our laws –- and the core values upon which they are based --
do not fall by the wayside in time of war.

Thank you again for your message. Please feel free to stay in touch.

Sincerely,




Richard J. Durbin
United States Senator

RJD/rp

P.S. If you are ever visiting Washington, please feel free to join Senator
Fitzgerald and me at our weekly constituent coffee. When the Senate is in
session, we provide coffee and donuts every Thursday at 8:30 a.m. as we
hear what is on the minds of Illinoisans and respond to your questions.
We would welcome your participation. Please call my D.C. office for more
details.

[AmerDem]

1. nice, that is wonderful!

Keep up the good work!:toast:

[Robbien]

2. Senator Fitzgerald is not someone I would want to spend

time with. His office has been very unfriendly to his constituants who are not Republicans. Wait and visit them when Obama takes over.

But Durbin is great isn't he?

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. I would NEVER visit with Fitzgerald.

I can't stand the man. He does answer my letters, but always as a supporter of the chimp's agenda. :puke: It's pathetic and I'm SO happy Obama is replacing him.

[John_H]

4. A great letter from the greatest senator still serving

[obnoxiousdrunk]

5. I'm so jealous

that you're going to have the 2 best senators Durbin and Obama.

[buycitgo]

6. yeah, well, that's fine and all

he's my senator, too, but he's ignored my phone calls about Sibel Edmonds

AND WTF is he doing about the CHILD TORTURE?

huh?

cat got his tongue?

those vids come out here, like the did in GERMANY and ScandiNAVIA, there will be pitchforks and torches on PA avenue

I am SO SICK of the democratic party

WE KNOW THOSE VIDS EXIST!

SO DOES HE

is it just me?

[in_cog_ni_to]

7. KEEP calling!

email him every day! Keep calling and calling and calling. OR Go to that D.C breakfast he has. He wouldn't be able to avoid you there. I am really, really surprised that he hasn't returned your calls. KEEP calling! Have you asked his secretary when he is in his Illinois office? Find out and meet him there.

[ClassWarrior]

8. Yes, it's just you.

Take in_cog's advice and email Durbin EVERY DAY. He's a good guy, but like all Senators, he's a swamped guy. If you throw a lot out there, something's bound to float to the top.

[democratreformed]

12. What was most notable to me about his reply

was his lack of acknoweldgement OR denial that there had been abuses (including sexual ones) of children. Although the letter was okay, it did not address THAT issue.

[KharmaTrain]

9. That's MY Senator!!! And I Hope Future Majority Leader

The man is as genuine as they come, and hasn't waivered on his opposition to the war since day one.

If the GOOPies want to see someone with that coveted "Most Liberal Voting Record", I'd suggest they look at Senator Durbin's votes! No to the war, and no to the Haliburton 87 billion.

He and Fitzgerald developed a very good and close relationship over the past few years...and I think that pissed off Hastert, and was part of the now stupid move to force Fitzgerald from running for re-election.

BTW...if you do get to DC, take the Senator up on his offer. His office is extremely accomodating in making arrangements and also are a great help in getting "tickets" to see the White House & Capitol...two places "regular Americans" are restricted from visiting.

[chicagojoe]

10. Durbin is awesome. Soon we here in Illinois will send another great leader

to Washington. Barak Obama. Hey Alan Keyes--- stay outta my state !!!

[Veggie Meathead]

11. Your letter and Sen.Durbin's reply are the type of exchanges needed

between citizens and their representatives ina democracy.That we have such a Senator willing to listen and address your concerns in intelligible, coherent sentences speaks volumes for Senator Durbin's
understanding of what a democracy ought to be.

I am sure anyone who has the misfortune of being represented by Tom Delay is unlikely to get a response and if they do get it will be some cockamamie gobbledygook.