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Retired generals warn Trump not to reinstate torture

Tuesday, 10 January 2017 3:15 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 10 January 2017 4:09 PM ]

President-elect Donald Trump arrives from the elevator at Trump Tower, January 9, 2017 in New York. (Photo by AFP)

A coalition of retired officers, including 33 four-star generals and admirals, is calling on President-elect Donald Trump not to reinstate torture for terrorism suspects, according to a report.

In a show of military opposition to torture, 176 retired officers and generals from all branches of the US military wrote a letter to Trump, cautioning him against bringing back waterboarding and other torture methods, The New York Times reported on Tuesday.

During his presidential campaign, Trump vowed to “bring back a hell of a lot worse than waterboarding” to use against suspected terrorists. The billionaire property developer contended that “torture works,” and even “if it doesn’t work, they deserve it anyway.”

The letter, dated January 6, was signed by some of the most prominent military figures, including Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal and Gen. John R. Allen, who were both commanders of US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan, as well as Adm. William H. McRaven, the Special Operations commander who reportedly oversaw the raid that killed former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

The list also included a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a former commander of the Central Command, four former commanders of the Southern Command, two former directors of the National Security Agency (NSA), and former chiefs of staff of the Army and the Air Force.

The signatories of the letter voiced concerns “about statements made during the campaign about the use of torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment of detainees in US custody.”

The retired officers cited their "six thousand years of combined experience" to say that waterboarding and "other enhanced interrogation techniques" were "unnecessary" and "counterproductive." They also said torture was illegal under domestic and international law.

“Our greatest strength is our commitment to the rule of law and to the principles embedded in our Constitution,” the letter continued. “Our servicemen and women need to know that our leaders do not condone torture or detainee abuse of any kind.”

Waterboarding had been used by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on terror suspects captured after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks. The harsh practice, which simulates drowning, was banned in 2006.

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