Retired generals, admirals to talk torture with Presidential hopefuls, but McCain won't be there

[babylonsister]

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Exgenerals_admirals_to_talk_torture_with_0413.html


Retired generals, admirals to talk torture with Presidential hopefuls, but McCain won't be there
Michael Roston
Published: Friday April 13, 2007
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A group of retired generals and admirals will sit down for informal discussions with four presidential candidates in New Hampshire over the course of this weekend. A human rights group has organized the discussions to allow the military veterans to deliver messages to the 2008 hopefuls on US detention policy in the war on terrorism and the use of torture.

But one key candidate who has become known for his anti-torture advocacy, Senator John McCain (R-AZ), will not be in attendance.

"Unfortunately, the senator will be in Iowa and DC this weekend," a member of McCain's presidential campaign staff told RAW STORY via e-mail.

McCain wasn't alone among Republican candidates who did not arrange to meet with the retired officers. Only four Democratic candidates had confirmed meeting times during the weekend – Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Joseph Biden, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, and former Senator John Edwards – according to Rear Admiral John Hutson, (ret.), President and Dean of the Franklin Pierce Law Center, in Concord, NH, which is hosting the discussions.

Human Rights First, which organized the event, emphasized that it was continuing to work to get other candidates briefings on detention and interrogations. One of the participating retired generals explicitly left the door open to future dialog.

"Not everyone has shown up, and we want to state clearly they were all invited, and all encouraged to attend, all would have been welcome," said retired four star General Charles Krulak, former Commandant of the Marine Corps, in a Friday morning conference call. "We don't think its from a lack of interest, and we're going to make it a point to get with each one of them in the next months."

Human Rights First organized the sit downs with 20 former admirals and generals in New Hampshire, which hosts the first presidential primary in 2008, to raise awareness with candidates from both parties about detention and interrogation issues in the war on terrorism.

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[skipos]

1. "known for his anti-torture advocacy?!?" nt

[Clark2008]

2. Am I missing the paragraph that lists all the retired generals?

I know who all the presidential candidates are. Where is the list of all the retired generals who will be speaking to this group?

There are names of them sprinkled throughout the story, but not a list (unless I'm missing it).

[babylonsister]

3. Here's the (LONG) list of retired generals and admirals from Human

Rights First press release:


http://www.humanrightsfirst.org/media/etn/2007/alert/326/index.htm

Retired Generals and Admirals to Meet with Presidential Candidates

Generals Krulak, Hoar and Kern to Co-Chair Unprecedented Gathering on U.S. Detention and Interrogation Policies
More About Ending Torture

CONCORD, N.H. -- An unprecedented gathering of retired generals and admirals with backgrounds in combat operations, intelligence, law, and medicine will meet here with presidential candidates in mid-April to discuss U.S. detention and interrogation policies.

The gathering, which takes place over the weekend of April 13-15, is co-hosted by Rear Admiral John Hutson, (Ret.), President and Dean of Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, and Human Rights First, a New York-based non-partisan, non-profit group. The group of retired senior leaders will meet with individual candidates over the course of the weekend.

All Republican and Democratic candidates who have formally announced their candidacy or established exploratory committees have been invited to attend the meetings. Several candidates have already accepted the invitation to meet with the group of approximately 20 retired senior officers.

The event will be chaired by three retired four-star officers with wide-ranging experience: Gen. Charles Krulak, former Commandant of the Marine Corps; Gen. Joseph P. Hoar, former Commander in Chief of Central Command, which includes the Middle East; and Gen. Paul J. Kern, who was responsible for conducting an official investigation into events surrounding the allegations of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib.

“This will be a forum where candidates can come and talk to individuals with solid experience in the military and geo-politics,” said Gen. Krulak. “It will be an opportunity for them to learn of some of the issues that are important to individual soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines with regard to the Code of Conduct and treatment of enemy prisoners.”

Gen. Hoar said, “We are looking forward to a candid give-and-take about U.S. policy regarding interrogation, detention, and detainee treatment with those who seek to be the next president and Commander-in-Chief. These issues we will discuss with candidates affect the standing of the United States in the world as well as the safety of our own troops and our country.”

Gen. Kern said, “The meeting with candidates will not be the standard forum or debate. Our meetings will be private sessions between the officers and individual candidates. It’s a unique opportunity for an exchange of views between the candidates for the highest office in the country and experienced military personnel whose backgrounds make them extremely well-suited to the task of communicating the range of issues involved.”

The group of retired generals and admirals is nonpartisan and will not endorse any candidate. The group hopes that all candidates will embrace policies for treatment of detainees that are consistent with the welfare of the military and with American laws, values, and interests.

Along with the co-chairs and co-host Hutson, the retired military participants include:

General Merrill A. McPeak, USAF (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Robert G. Gard Jr., USA (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Lee F. Gunn, USN (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Charles Otstott, USA (Ret.)

Lieutenant General Harry E. Soyster, USA (Ret.)

Rear Admiral Don Guter, USN (Ret.)

Major General Fred E. Haynes, USMC (Ret.)

Major General Melvyn Montano, ANG (Ret.)

Major General William Nash, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General David M. Brahms, USMC (Ret.)

Brigadier General James P. Cullen, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Murray G. Sagsveen, USA (Ret.)

Brigadier General Stephen N. Xenakis, USA (Ret.)