SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER

Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.

* indicates required
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release

Why Torture Does Not Work: A Military Perspective

Forum with Retired Generals to be held at William and Mary Law School on October 6th at 5:00 p.m.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va.

Retired military leaders will discuss U.S. interrogation policy and
the importance of the commander-in-chief setting the highest standards
for all U.S. personnel in the treatment of prisoners. Questions about
the use and legality of so called "enhanced interrogation techniques"
continue to be prominent in the presidential campaign and in the media.
Both presidential candidates, Senators Barack Obama and John McCain,
were asked to share their perspectives on the use of torture in last
week's presidential debate. The William and Mary forum, co-sponsored by
Human Rights First and the Human Rights and National Security Law
Program of William and Mary Law School, will take place on October 6th at 5:00 p.m. in Room 120 of the William and Mary Law School.

Retired military leaders Major General Paul D. Eaton, Major General
Fred E. Haynes and Brigadier General James P. Cullen will discuss the
importance of using interrogation methods that are effective, lawful
and humane. They will underscore the need to ensure that interrogation
and prisoner treatment policies enhance our national security, protect
our troops and are consistent with American laws, values and interests.

The forum participants are part of a larger group of retired
generals and admirals who are working to ensure that U.S. policy
reflects a single standard of prisoner treatment consistent with the
Geneva Conventions. During the presidential primary season, the group
traveled to New Hampshire and Iowa where they met individually with
eight presidential candidates from both parties. Members of the group
also participated in forums on the topic of interrogation policy in
South Carolina and Florida in advance of those states' primary
elections. Recently, the group participated in events at both the
Democratic and Republican national conventions and advocated for the
inclusion of strong, anti-torture language in both parties' platforms.
These retired military leaders are continuing to travel to key states
in the presidential campaign because they are committed to ensuring
that the next commander-in-chief understands the fundamental importance
of prisoner treatment issues to members of the United States Armed
Forces and to our national security.

Where: William and Mary Law School, 613 South Henry Street, Room 120

When: October 6, 2008; 5:00 p.m.

Who: Major General Paul D. Eaton, Major General Fred E. Haynes and Brigadier General James P. Cullen

This event is free and open to the public.

Major General Paul D. Eaton, USA (Ret.)

General Eaton recently retired from the U.S. Army after more than 33
years service. His assignments include Infantry command from the
company to brigade levels, command of the Infantry Center at Fort
Benning and Chief of Infantry. His most recent operational assignment
was Commanding General of the command charged with reestablishing Iraqi
Security Forces 2003-2004, where he built the command and established
the structure and infrastructure for the Iraqi Armed Forces. Other
operational assignments include Somalia, Bosnia and Albania. Other
assignments include the Joint Staff, Deputy Commanding General for
Transformation and Stryker Unit Development and Assistant Professor and
head of the French Department at West Point. He is a 1972 graduate of
West Point.

Major General Fred E. Haynes, USMC (Ret.)

General Haynes is a combat veteran of World War II, Korea and
Vietnam. He was a captain in the regiment that seized Mt Suribachi, Iwo
Jima and raised the American flag there, February 23, 1945. In Korea,
he was Executive Officer of the 2nd Bn, 1st Marines. During Vietnam, he
commanded the Fifth Marines, and was G-3 of the Third Marine Amphibious
Force. During the Kennedy and Johnson eras, he served as Pentagon
Director, Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs. As a general officer he
commanded the Second and Third Marine Divisions. He was the Senior
Member of the United Nations Military Armistice Commission in Korea,
and was Deputy Chief of Staff for Marine Corps Research and
Development. He is chairman of the Combat Veterans of Iwo Jima,
Chairman Emeritus of the American Turkish Council and a member of the
Council on Foreign Relations. Haynes lives in New York and has recently
published a book, The Lions of Iwo Jima: The Story of Combat Team 28
and the Bloodiest Battle of Marine Corps History.

Brigadier General James P. Cullen, USA (Ret.)

Mr. Cullen is a retired Brigadier General in the United States Army
Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps and last served as the Chief
Judge (IMA) of the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals. He currently
practices law in New York City.

Human Rights First is a non-profit, nonpartisan international human rights organization based in New York and Washington D.C. Human Rights First believes that building respect for human rights and the rule of law will help ensure the dignity to which every individual is entitled and will stem tyranny, extremism, intolerance, and violence.