3-31-18
RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO GINA HASPEL NOMINATION TO BECOME CIA DIRECTOR
Whereas, the Florida Veterans For Common Sense are opposed, on legal, moral and practical grounds, to the use of torture by any US government agency; and
Whereas, there is credible evidence that current CIA Deputy Director, Gina Haspel, was both an advocate of and participant in alleged torture under the “extraordinary rendition” program element of the so-called “War on Terror.” Extraordinary rendition is explicitly prohibited under The United Nations Convention Against Torture and a 1998 federal statute which the U.S. Senate ratified at the urging of then President Ronal Reagan, and;
Whereas, it is reliably reported that Gina Haspel drafted a cable instructing CIA field stations to destroy video tape evidence demonstrating torture used against US captives in secret CIA prisons (1); and
Whereas, Senate Intelligence Committee members, Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), having seen still classified information regarding Gina Haspel’s role in what is described as needlessly brutal “enhanced interrogation” activities, have stated in a letter to President Trump that Gina Haspel is unfit to serve as Director of Central intelligence. Senator Diane Feinstein of the Intelligence Committee has called for declassifying reports concerning Gina Haspel’s role in the “enhanced interrogation” program, and Senators John McCain and Rand Paul have stated Haspel must answer questions regarding her role in that program (2); and
NOW, THEREFORE, FLORIDA VETERANS FOR COMMON SENSE Inc. adopts this resolution in opposition to the nomination of Gina Haspel as US Director of Central Intelligence.
SOURCES: (1) Washington post.com, Theguardian.com; (2) Buzzfeed.com, Aclu.org, The American Conservative