Defining "Waterboarding" As Torture And Eliminating Its Practice By The United States Government

By Margie Murray

WHEREAS, the eighth amendment to the United States Constitution bans the use of cruel and unusual punishment, and on September 6, 2006, the United States Department of Defense released a revised Army Field Manual entitled Human Intelligence Collector Operations that prohibits the use of waterboarding by U.S. military personnel, and further that the United States is a ratifying member of the UN Convention Against Torture which prohibits the use of waterboarding; and

WHEREAS, this form of torture has been used during the Spanish Inquisition, by the Japanese and the German Secret Police during World War II, and by the North Vietnamese against American POWs in North Vietnam, and that the majority of Americans abhor and do not want this form of violence and torture committed in their names by the U.S. Government and its acting agents;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party is committed to ending the illegal and immoral act of torture "Waterboarding" done to any prisoners and further that we unequivocally support the Geneva Conventions definition of torture; and

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party send a copy of this resolution to the California Congressional delegation.

Authored by Margie Murray (41st AD), Valley Democrats United, Progressive Democrats of Los Angeles; Brad Parker, President, Valley Democrats United, Progressive Democrats of LA Endorsed by Valley Democrats United Passed by Los Angeles County Democratic Party Resolutions Committee 11/06/07

• * *