THE BURNED OVER DISTRICT

From the press release of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

Iraq and Afghanistan Vets Stand with Fellow Combat Vets in Congress to Unequivocally Condemn Torture
President's Proposal Puts U.S. Troops in Unnecessary Danger

NEW YORK - The nation's first and largest organization of Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans, IAVA, released the following statement today from Executive Director Paul Rieckhoff, commending Senators McCain, Graham and Warner, and also General Colin Powell, for their unequivocal stand against the use of torture on enemy detainees.

"As veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, we stand with our fellow combat veterans in Congress. For the safety of our own troops, it is absolutely imperative that we take an unequivocal stand against the use of torture on all enemy detainees," said Paul Rieckhoff, an Iraq War veteran and the executive director of IAVA: Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "Not only is it the right thing to do, but it is also the smart thing to do."

"It is insulting that the President, who has never served in combat, would dismiss the credible and reasoned advice of men like Senator McCain, a brave combat veteran who endured years of torture as a prisoner of war," said Rieckhoff.

"This is an example of the President's questionable commitment to our troops, and his failure to grasp the dynamics on the battlefield," Rieckhoff said. "How can the President say to our men and women in uniform that he is willing to risk their safety unnecessarily? Maybe the President would understand the importance of this issue more clearly if he had personally served in combat."

"The President repeatedly tells us that this fight is tough, but those of us who have been there know that already," said Rieckhoff, "and the President's stand on this issue will only make it tougher."

IAVA is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization representing the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. To arrange an interview with Paul Rieckhoff or to learn more about IAVA, please contact Will Coghlan at 212-982-9699 or will@iava.org.

Chickenhawks and deserters always think torture is cool.