Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

One of the first executive orders President Obama issued was to close the detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  This was one of three sweeping orders the president issued in an effort to reform interrogation practices and detention policies.  These three measures combine to affirm our renewed commitment as a nation to human rights and the rule of law.

I have long supported the closing of this facility as well as an independent investigation of U.S. detainee policy, and I led the effort in the Senate to preserve the right of detainees being held by the U.S. to challenge the legality of their detention in court.  I believe torture and prisoner abuse is not only wrong and illegal, but counter to our nation’s interests in combating terrorism and ensuring the humane treatment of American citizens when they have been captured in war.

Congress banned the use of torture and specified that interrogation methods used by all representatives of the U.S. government—military and CIA—must be authorized by the Army Field Manual both in 2006 and 2008.  Unfortunately, the Bush Administration did not believe this applied to interrogations conducted by members of the CIA, and insisted that certain techniques, such as waterboarding, were lawful.

I believe we can aggressively fight terrorism in a manner that is consistent with our obligation to respect human rights, and I am glad President Obama has taken prompt action to close Guantanamo and prohibit the use of torture. The administration has put in place procedures to carefully review each detainee’s case and determine the best way to move forward.  I support this effort, and believe it is an important step in establishing a fair process to bring those who have committed crimes to justice.