Subject: CTR TPs: HILLARY CLINTON DENOUNCES THE USE OF TORTURE BY UNITED STATES
From: Burns Strider <[email-masked]>
To: CTRFriendsFamily <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 13:50:27 -0500
List-Id: <CTRFriendsFamily.americanbridge.org>

*Hillary Clinton Denounces the Use of Torture by United States*

*Background: *

At an event honoring her deep commitment to human rights, Hillary Clinton
spoke forcefully on Tuesday regarding the use of torture by the United
States.  Her remarks were given at a speech at the Robert F. Kennedy Center
for Justice and Human Rights Gala. Her speech followed the release of a
report on the CIA’s interrogation methods. 12/14
<http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/hillary-clinton-pass-laws-forbidding-torture-113631.html>

-       Clinton denounced the practice of torture by the United States and
advocated for laws that ban torture.

-       Clinton emphasized that the practice of torture is not in line with
the values for which our country stands.

As Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton consistently opposed the use of
torture by the United States. 12/09
<http://www.state.gov/secretary/20092013clinton/rm/2009a/12/133544.htm>

-        Clinton said that the U.S. must hold itself accountable to the
same international law that it holds other nations - including a ban on
torture.

-        Clinton said the U.S. would participate in the U.N.’s Universal
Periodic Review of its own human rights record.

As Senator, Hillary Clinton condemned the Bush Administration’s use of
torture to fight terrorism and wrote that torture does not reliably assist
our intelligence community. 11/07  10/07

In Hillary Clinton’s memoir, *Hard Choices*, she praised President Obama’s
2009 executive order banning torture.

*Remarks of Hillary Clinton Following Release of CIA Torture Report at RFK
Center for Justice and Human Rights Gala:*

-        "Yes, the threat of terrorism is real and urgent, scores of
children were just murdered in Pakistan, beheadings in the Middle East, a
siege in Sydney, these tragedies not only break hearts but should steel our
resolve and underscore that our values are what set us apart from our
adversaries.”

-        "Today we can say again in a loud and clear voice, the United
States should never condone or practice torture anywhere in the world.”

-        "That should be absolutely clear as a matter of both policy and
law, including our international treaty obligations, and if that requires
new legislation, then Congress should work with President Obama to quickly
enact it and it shouldn't be an issue of partisan politics."

-        “America is at our best when our actions match our values.”

*Remarks of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State on Use of Torture by
United States:*

-        The U.S. “can and must do a better job of addressing the mistaken
belief that these tactics are ever permissible.” 6/7/12
<http://www.state.gov/secretary/20092013clinton/rm/2012/06/191912.htm>

-        “When nations violate human rights and undermine the rule of law,
even in the pursuit of terrorists, it feeds radicalization, gives
propaganda tools to the extremists, and ultimately undermines our efforts.
The international community cannot turn our eyes away from the effects of
these tactics because they are part of the problem.” 6/7/12
<http://www.state.gov/secretary/20092013clinton/rm/2012/06/191912.htm>

-        “By holding ourselves accountable, we reinforce our moral
authority to demand that all governments adhere to obligations under
international law; among them, not to torture.” 12/14/09
<http://www.state.gov/secretary/20092013clinton/rm/2009a/12/133544.htm>

*Remarks of Hillary Clinton as Senator on Use of Torture by United States:*

-        *“*Torture ‘cannot be American policy. Period.” 10/4/07

-        *“*Torture is morally wrong. It is against the law. It betrays our
most fundamental values, damages our credibility around the world, and
harms U.S. national security.” 5/17/08

-        Torture “does not bear reliable fruit in intelligence gathering.”
10/4/07]

-        “The world we want is also a world where human rights are
respected. By surrendering our values in the name of our safety, the Bush
administration has left Americans wondering whether its rhetoric about
freedom around the world still applies back home. We have undercut
international support for fighting terrorism by suggesting that the job
cannot be done without humiliation, infringements on basic rights to
privacy and free speech, and even torture.”

*Excerpt by Hillary Clinton in Hard Choices memoir on President Obama’s
Torture Ban:*

-        “In 2009, there was no denying that our country’s approach to
human rights had gotten somewhat out of balance. On his second full day in
office President Obama issued an executive order prohibiting the use
of torture or official cruelty by any U.S. official and ordered the closure
of Guantánamo Bay (a goal that has not yet been achieved). He pledged to
put human rights back at the heart of our foreign policy.”